Texas Southern University Secures Historic $21.5 Million NIH Grant to Advance Biomedical and Health Research

HOUSTON, TX—September 30, 2025 — Texas Southern University (TSU) has been awarded a five-year U54 grant (2U54MD007605-32) from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), totaling $21,473,503 for the period September 11, 2025, to May 31, 2030. The award will support the Center for Biomedical and Health Research (CBMHR) at Texas Southern, co-led by Esther Arike Olaleye, Ph.D., MPH (Principal Investigator), Huan Xie, Ph.D. (Principal Investigator), and Dong Liang, Ph.D. (Program Director).

This program will strengthen Texas Southern’s research infrastructure and promote interdisciplinary collaboration across biomedical, behavioral, and clinical fields. By addressing critical health challenges, such as cancer and hypertension, we aim to improve healthcare outcomes in the Greater Houston area, Harris County, and beyond, advancing Texas Southern’s mission in biomedical, socio-behavioral, and clinical research, education, training, and service.

“This extraordinary $21.5 million award from NIH represents a powerful affirmation of the mission we pursue at Texas Southern University,” said Huan Xie, Ph.D., Principal Investigator and Director of the Graduate Program of Pharmaceutical Sciences. “I am thrilled to lead a dedicated team on advancing research into real-world impact by driving scientific discovery, improving health outcomes, and uplifting the communities we serve, while providing exceptional training and mentorship to the next generation of scientists and health professionals.”

Echoing this milestone, Dong Liang, Ph.D., Professor and Interim Associate Dean for Research, remarked, “This is the largest extramural research funding TSU has ever received, and it stands as a testament to the dedication and excellence of our faculty and students. We are both excited and committed to doing our utmost to advance biomedical, socio-behavioral, and clinical research and education.”

Reflecting on the broader impact, Esther Arike Olaleye, Ph.D., MPH, Principal Investigator and Senior Associate Vice-President for Research and Innovation, added, “To God be all the glory, for making this historic breakthrough happen for TSU, and the communities we serve. We are so thrilled and blessed to continue the great work of positively transforming health outcomes in our community, training our students, enhancing faculty development, promoting a culture of research excellence, and advancing research nationally.”

The U54 Center comprises four core components:

• Administrative Core led by Drs. Esther Arike Olaleye, Huan Xie & Dong Liang
• Research Capacity Core led by Drs. Song Gao & Hongmei Wang
• Investigator Development Core led by Drs. Ivy Poon & Mario Holloman
• Community Engagement Core led by Dr. Veronica Ajewole

The center will primarily support two major research projects and several pilot projects:

• Project 1. “Development of Novel Peptide-based Agents for the Treatment of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer” led by Dr. Dong Liang, and Dr. Chun Li (MD Anderson Cancer Center)
• Project 2. “Innovative Management of Hypertension in Older African American Adults” led by Drs. Creaque Tyler & Ivy Poon

The center also offers elite, innovative research and educational opportunities for Texas Southern’s faculty, staff, and students, as well as enhances community engagement:

• The center will provide TEAM academic and research mentoring program for all faculty and staff across TSU’s 10 colleges and schools.
• The center will host a Pilot Project Program to expand research opportunities for early-stage investigators in biomedical, behavioral, and clinical disciplines across Texas Southern University.
• Several graduate and undergraduate students in the Pharmaceutical Sciences program are actively participating in these research projects.
• Research projects and cores will offer seminars and hands-on research opportunities to train Texas Southern graduate and undergraduate students.
• The center will strengthen trusted partnerships and community relationships through outreach programs, health education events, and studios. We will continue to host annual conferences and other events to disseminate findings and address community health concerns.

Through this grant, Texas Southern University reaffirms its commitment to groundbreaking research, transformative community partnerships, and preparing the next generation of biomedical scientists and healthcare leaders.