Binghamton pharmacy professor grateful for research grants to improve chemotherapy

Finding the cure for cancer and other debilitating diseases has long been a challenge for researchers around the world. At Binghamton University, Associate Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences Nathan Tumey believes his research pushes us closer to achieving that goal.

For more than 15 years, Tumey has focused his research on antibody-drug conjugates, which are used almost entirely for cancer treatment. Through this process, the antibody drug targets a protein on the surface of the cancer cell. Then the cell pulls the drug inside, and the linker releases the toxic drug directly into the cancer cell to destroy it.

Grants like the ones Tumey received from the Technology Accelerator Funding (TAF) this year are critical so that researchers can continue to work toward cures and answers.

"Well, we don't do any research without grants, right?" Tumey said. "Research is expensive, and we rely on external funding to make progress. For instance, there's a company called Big Hat Biosciences, and they've developed a unique AI technology for developing antibodies very quickly. My work focuses on drug delivery by attaching drugs to antibodies, and without the grant funding, this collaboration wouldn't be possible. These kinds of partnerships enable us to pursue innovative solutions for treating diseases while also contributing to broader scientific knowledge."

Tumey's collaboration with Big Hat Biosciences could be used for more than just fighting cancer cells.

"My technology involves attaching drugs to antibodies, and Big Hat Biosciences has expertise in quickly identifying new antibodies. They don't have experience in drug delivery, and I don't have the ability to discover new antibodies, so we're marrying the two technologies," Tumey said. "Together, we're developing a method to deliver immunosuppressive agents to the small intestine, targeting conditions like irritable bowel disease, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. This partnership leverages both of our strengths to create something neither of us could achieve alone. It's an exciting convergence of innovation in both drug discovery and delivery that could have a real impact on patients with these conditions."

Tumey shared some insight into the grant process and the importance of relationship building to secure future funding.

"It's largely about relationship building when it comes to securing funding from companies," he said. "Unlike government grants, which have formal deadlines, companies distribute money based on relationships that faculty members have built over time. It often happens in informal ways, and the goal is to tap into those resources. Developing these relationships is crucial to getting private-sector investment in university research. These kinds of collaborations are key, especially when trying to transition from pure academic research to something with real-world applications. It's a long-term process, but the results can be transformative, both for the university and the industries involved."

He is grateful to the external partners who believe in the potential of his work and help to push science forward.

"It's exciting because it means I've convinced other people that this technology has potential," he said. "I've thought it had potential for years, but it's taken a long time to get here. Securing funding from a private company that recognizes the commercial value is really satisfying. This is the result of a relationship that I've nurtured for over three or four years. It's a huge validation of the work my lab has been doing, and it opens the door to new opportunities for further research and development."