Shu Ning, a postdoctoral scholar from the UC Davis laboratory of urologic surgeon Allen C. Gao, recently received the Prostate Cancer Research Program (PCRP) Early Investigator Research Award.

The award is funded by the Department of Defense’s Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program. It is intended to promote highly innovative, groundbreaking and high-impact research with near-term clinical relevance.

Ning will receive $480,000 over the next two years for her postdoctoral research. She is investigating how a newly identified oncogene linked to neurodevelopment transforms healthy cells into malignant prostate cancer.

“By studying different prostate cancer models, I’m exploring how blocking this gene activation will help impede tumor growth and overcome treatment resistance,” Ning said. “The findings should lead to the identification of new compounds to treat lethal prostate cancer and ultimately benefit those advanced prostate cancer patients who have developed resistance to anti-hormone drugs.”

The PCRP Early Investigator Research Award supports prostate cancer-focused research opportunities for individuals in the early stages of their careers under the guidance of one or more designated mentors. Ning’s research project is co-mentored by Gao and Department of Urologic Surgery Chair Marc Dall’Era.

The award allows early-career investigators to develop a research project, investigate a problem or question in prostate cancer research and advance their intellectual development as prostate cancer researchers.