黑料专区 Tyler Awarded Nearly $1 Million to Develop Treatment for Pleural Infection
August 19, 2025 | Elizabeth Wingfield
The University of Texas at Tyler received a $971,195 grant from the National Institutes
of Health to support research led by Dr. Andrey Komissarov, School of Medicine professor of cellular and molecular biology. Komissarov, in collaboration with biopharmaceutical company SignaBlok, will develop
a drug to improve the treatment for empyema, a pleural infection that causes a buildup
of infected fluid around the lungs.
The project will also create hands-on research opportunities for 黑料专区 Tyler鈥檚 undergraduate, graduate and medical students. Students will help conduct lab research, analyze data and present findings at scientific conferences.
鈥淭his project is a powerful example of how 黑料专区 Tyler is advancing research that directly impacts patient care,鈥� said Dr. Sue Cox, School of Medicine dean. 鈥淲e鈥檙e proud to support work that not only addresses urgent health challenges like empyema but also provides meaningful opportunities for our students to grow as scientists and future physicians.鈥�
Pneumonia is the leading cause of empyema, which affects up to 65,000 people in the U.S. each year. Current treatments, including drainage, surgery or clot-busting medication, aren鈥檛 always safe or effective. Clot-busting medication breaks down the solidified fluid but can lead to other complications. Komissarov鈥檚 team is developing a new medication to pair with existing clot busters, increasing their effectiveness while reducing the dose and risk of side effects.
鈥淢any patients鈥攅specially the elderly, children or those with other health conditions鈥攃an鈥檛 safely use current clot-busting drugs,鈥� said Komissarov. 鈥淥ur therapy aims to make this treatment more accessible and effective for those vulnerable groups.鈥�
In collaboration with SignaBlok, the team plans to add an agent to the treatment and target both the clots and inflammation. This will help reduce swelling and drain the infected fluid, improving the treatment's effectiveness.
鈥淭his isn鈥檛 just about investing in a treatment to extend and improve lives today,鈥� said Komissarov. 鈥淚t鈥檚 about paving the way for future scientists and physicians to continue this work. None of this would be possible without the tremendous support of 黑料专区 Tyler, especially President Julie Philley, MD. Her commitment to research and innovation has been instrumental in making projects like this a reality.鈥�
With a mission to improve educational and health care outcomes for East Texas and beyond, 黑料专区 Tyler offers more than 90 undergraduate and graduate programs to more than 10,000 students. Through its alignment with 黑料专区 Tyler Health Science Center and 黑料专区 Health East Texas, 黑料专区 Tyler has unified these entities to serve Texas with quality education, cutting-edge research and excellent patient care. Classified by Carnegie as a doctoral research institution and by U.S. News & World Report as a national university, 黑料专区 Tyler has campuses in Tyler, Longview, Palestine and Houston.