Center for Precision Medicine (CPM)

The Center for Precision Medicine (CPM) drives breakthroughs that transform patient care. By integrating biomarkers, imaging, spatial omics and advanced analytics with clinical research, CPM enables investigators to cross the “valley of death” between discovery and the clinic—to bridge the gap between discovery and clinical application—and ensure the right patient receives the right therapy at the right time.

• Strategic partners: Center for Innovative Drug Discovery (CiDD), Institute for the Integration of Medicine and Science (IIMS), University of Texas at San Antonio (UT San Antonio), Southwest Research Institute (SwRI®), Texas Biomed
• Unique capabilities: biomarker discovery/validation, spatial metabolomics, spatial transcriptomics, spatial proteomics, advanced imaging, patient‑centered bioinformatics, clinical trial integration, organoid screening

Key members for biomedical/AI expertise and clinical applications

Biomedical/AI expertise: Daohong Zhao, MD; Guanshi Zhang, PhD; Yaxia Yang, PhD (therapeutics); Kal Clark, MD (radiology and AI); Kate Lawrenson, PhD (spatial transcriptomics, bioinformatics); Simon Gayther, PhD (genomics); Mark Goldberg, MD, PhD (stroke, axonal injury); Amina Qutub, PhD (AI and lymphatics); Agustin Ruiz, PhD (AD multi-omics); Jingyong Ye. PhD (diagnostics, sensors); Aleksandra Gruslova. PhD (vascular calcification); Meredith Zozus, PhD (medical informatics); and Jonathan Gelfond MD, PhD (biostatistics)

Clinicians: Carlayne Jackson, MD (ALS); Allen Anderson, MD (heart failure); Marc Feldman, MD (interventional cardiovascular); Anoop Nambiar, MD (pulmonary); Matt Butler, MD (oncology); Anand Karnad, MD (Hematology); Swetha Kanduri, MD (onco-nephrology and rare diseases); Tareq Nassar, MD (glomerulonephritis); Wajeh Qunibi, MD (vascular calcification); Sarah Lapey, MD (liver disease); Prabhleen Chahal, MD (advanced intervention); Sarwat Gilani, MD; Ram Akilesh, MD (University of Washington);  and Jeff Hodgin, MD, Pathology (University of Michigan)

Featured clinical and translational projects

• BRISK: Bupropion for Fatigue in End‑stage Kidney Disease Patients on Hemodialysis — pilot interventional trial; CPM measures active metabolites. (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06609343)
• OASIS: Oral intradialytic essential amino acids to reduce fatigue, frailty and cognitive burden in dialysis — CPM targeted metabolomics in plasma. (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05705414)
• Spatial metabolomics in rare renal disease (Dense Deposit Disease) and metabolomics in renal biopsies — defining molecular drivers to inform therapy.
• Post‑hoc precision analysis of SGLT2/SGLT1‑2 inhibitors on urine adenine levels — linking mechanism to patient‑level biomarker change.

Your gift accelerates impact and helps bridge the “valley of death”

Philanthropic priorities and recognition

• Equip the platform with state-of-the-art technology: Mass spectrometry imaging as instrument improves every 2-3 years, advanced optical imaging, and assay development.
• Accelerate projects: Pilot grants that bridge discovery to first‑in‑human readiness; matching‑gift challenges.
• Power clinical studies: Interventional trials in neurologic diseases, rare cancers, cardiovascular diseases, and rare kidney and liver disease.
• Train talent: Named student/fellowships in AI, precision medicine and data science; visiting scholar lectureships.
• Advance equity: Expand diverse biobanks and community partnerships across South Texas.

Recognition options include Named funds, endowed fellowships, lecture series sponsorships, equipment naming, and symposium support.

Momentum