Tec professor secures international funding for cancer research

A research project led by Sujay Paul, a research professor at Tecnológico de Monterrey’s Querétaro campus, which aims to develop new options for treating conventional therapy-resistant colorectal cancer, has secured international funding. 

The project, which was developed in collaboration with the University of Texas at Austin, has received the Tec-UT Seed Grant Fall 2025 to continue developing proposals that combine nanotechnology, natural compounds, and precision gene therapies. 

“This recognition is a testament to the scientific rigor and pioneering research carried out at Tecnológico de Monterrey,” said the researcher. 

The research, entitled “Harnessing Nature and Nanotechnology to Overcome Drug-Resistant Colorectal Cancer,” proposes a therapeutic strategy that combines the natural anticancer phytochemical thymoquinone with antimicroRNA-21 to simultaneously destroy tumor cells and the molecular pathways responsible for treatment resistance. 

This project stems from a scientific collaboration between Tecnológico de Monterrey and the University of Texas at Austin (UT) which included the participation of Devleena Samanta, a UT Chemistry professor. 

The research proposes blocking the molecular pathways associated with treatment resistance while simultaneously destroying tumor cells. To achieve this, the team developed a “dual attack” approach, using thymoquinone, a phytochemical to eliminate cancer cells, and antimicroRNA 21 to neutralize the tumor’s genetic resistance. 

Both components are encapsulated in a folic acid-coated nanoformulation, which acts as a “biological GPS” by precisely targeting malignant cells while minimizing damage to healthy tissues.  

“We’re seeking to develop an innovative colorectal cancer therapy using nanoparticles to deliver natural bioactive compounds and molecules designed to block tumor resistance,” he said. 

According to Paul, the project’s main innovation consists of integrating three cutting-edge disciplines into a single therapeutic platform: naturally derived bioactive compounds, non-coding RNA therapies, and functionalized nanoparticles for targeted treatment delivery. 

The research is focused on developing nanomedicines and gene therapies derived from natural compounds to treat chronic diseases, specifically cancer and metabolic disorders.  

In recent years, the team has developed nanoformulations of therapeutic phytochemicals and studied non-coding RNAs, molecules that regulate gene expression and play a role in the development of various diseases. 

The project stems from a scientific collaboration between Tecnológico de Monterrey and the University of Texas at Austin, where both institutions identified the opportunity to combine expertise in nanotechnology, natural compounds, and therapeutic RNA to develop new therapies against treatment-resistant cancer. 

From the Querétaro campus, the group led by Paul has been a pioneer in the synthesis of nature-inspired nanotechnology platforms. 

“The collaboration with UT Austin allows us to combine our expertise, infrastructure, and experience to address complex, global problems,” he explained. 

“This partnership demonstrates our campus’ ability to generate strategic alliances with world-renowned institutions,” he said. 

The initiative has been backed by the Texas Global Seed Grants program, which aims to cultivate strategic collaborations and promote scalable research for international funding opportunities from organizations such as the United States National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Science Foundation (NSF). 

“I’m deeply grateful to Tec de Monterrey for their continued support of this international partnership, and to Texas Global for making this collaboration possible,” added the researcher. 

Undergraduate and graduate students from the Querétaro campus are actively involved in the different phases of research; their activities include cell culturing, nanoparticle characterization, molecular analysis, and experimental data processing.  

In Paul’s words, this level of global collaboration allows them to build competencies in cutting-edge areas such as nanomedicine, biotechnology, and precision medicine, all while interacting with researchers from leading global institutions. 

“For our students and researchers, this alliance creates new opportunities for training, academic exchanges, and developing high-impact international initiatives,” he said. 

Beyond colorectal cancer treatments, researcher Sujay Paul pointed out that this line of research aims to contribute to developing smart therapies that integrate nanotechnology and RNA-based medicine for tackling complex diseases. 

“We hope to lay the groundwork for more effective strategies to target treatment-resistant tumors, a problem affecting thousands of patients worldwide,” he said. 

From a scientific perspective, the researcher explained that the goal is to demonstrate that non-coding RNAs can become clinically viable targeted therapies when combined with advanced nanoparticle delivery systems.  

If successful, this approach could lead to new treatments for cancer and other chronic diseases in which these molecules are implicated. 

Finally, Paul highlighted the international collaborative effort. He thanked his colleagues, including Professor Devleena Samanta, from the University of Texas at Austin, Padmavati Sahare, a postdoctoral researcher at Tecnológico de Monterrey, Professor Gabriel Luna Bárcenas (Faculty of Excellence, Tec de Monterrey), Professor Miriam Estévez (UNAM), and Professor Asim K. Duttaroy (Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo) 

“Experience and collaboration have significantly enriched this research,” he concluded.