Top

Spring 2018 : My Moon Shot

My Moon Shot

Philip Jones, Ph.D., worked in drug discovery for 15 years at Merck Research Laboratories at several sites across the globe before joining MD Anderson in 2012. He received a doctorate in organic chemistry from the University of Nottingham, United Kingdom, and completed post-doctoral research at Philipps-Universitat Marburg, Germany. As Vice President for Therapeutics Discovery and head of drug discovery at the Institute for Applied Cancer Science (IACS), Jones leads a team of drug discovery and development scientists who aim to identify the next generation of cancer medicines, move them into clinical trials and get them into clinical practice.

BY Philip Jones, Ph.D.

Philip Jones, executive director and head of drug discovery at the Institute for Applied Cancer Science (IACS). Photo by F. Carter Smith

"At IACS, our singular goal is to provide patients access to novel therapies, and along the way do this in a cost-effective way. It’s a matter of accelerating meritorious programs, while reaching rapid decisions to stop “no-go,” ineffective projects before making large expenditures of money, time and other resources.

What we do in oncology drug discovery really counts. I remember reading a blog a few years ago when I was at Merck that really drove this point home for me. The post was written by the husband of a patient who was responding to a drug I’d developed, the PARP inhibitor niraparib. He shared a sense of hope and encouraged others to join the clinical trial.

That day was special. It showed me that what we do, creating more treatment opportunities, makes a difference in the lives of patients and their families everywhere. I want to do that again.

None of this would be possible without philanthropy. The generosity of donors who believe in our work enables us to execute on projects of great magnitude. It gives us resources to determine where those medicines are going to be effective and get them into patient use at MD Anderson and across the world.

Engineering all the necessary properties for a single molecule to be effective in patients is a challenging process that requires multiple skill sets, with collaboration and teamwork across many disciplines. We’re unique in the way we embed drug discovery experts within MD Anderson’s world-class infrastructure, collaborating with physician-scientists and clinical researchers to move forward programs that are going to be really impactful.

The hard work of the talented cross-functional teams at IACS and MD Anderson’s Center for Co-Clinical Trials is what makes things happen. The team spirit across the group is phenomenal. I hope our collaborative effort becomes the standard for moving medicines more quickly and effectively through clinical development and getting them to the right patients much earlier."

To learn more about Philip Jones, Ph.D., visit his faculty profile.

What's your Moon Shot? Contact us at promise@mdanderson.org and tell us why MD Anderson's Moon Shots Program is important to you.

More Stories From Promise

On course with the PGA TOUR

As the Official Cancer Center of the PGA TOUR®, MD Anderson has a national platform to advance its mission to end cancer, help spectators understand and manage cancer risk, and raise funds for critical cancer research and programs.

Survivors Say: Juanita Morris, ovarian cancer survivor

Juanita Morris splits her time between Houston and San Diego. Although she knew of MD Anderson as a world-renowned hospital, she never expected to become a patient. On Feb. 23, 2017, Juanita began experiencing severe pain in her right pelvic area, frequent urination and bloating. Doctors in San Diego found a softball-size tumor and recommended immediate surgery. She flew to Houston for an appointment with Charles Levenback, M.D., professor, Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine. Levenback diagnosed stage III ovarian cancer and scheduled surgery. Once Juanita had recovered from the successful surgery, Levenback put her on a course of chemotherapy for 18 weeks. A year later, Juanita feels like her old self again. Here, she reflects on the strength that carried her through treatment.

iPromise: Todd Stewart

In November 2017, Brenda Stewart and her son, Todd, of Houston, donated $3,600 to MD Anderson in loving memory of husband and father Tommy “Steve” Stewart. Their annual donation will supply the coffee bar on the G16 inpatient leukemia unit, where Steve was a patient on and off for three years.

Cancer survivor creates clutches for a cause

Susan Tancer was diagnosed with brain cancer in June 2004. An online search for clinical trials led her to MD Anderson Cancer Center, where she met Raymond Sawaya, M.D., professor, Neurosurgery.

Getting to know Pat Bodin, MD Anderson Cancer Center Board of Visitors member

A member of the MD Anderson Cancer Center Board of Visitors (BOV) for 10 years, Pat Bodin is a passionate supporter of MD Anderson’s cancer prevention and control platform, a key component of the Moon Shots Program™, including its EndTobacco™ initiative and the first Texas Tobacco Summit in June 2014.

Southwest Airlines provides transportation for cancer patients and their families

MD Anderson's donated transportation helps ease burden on cancer patients

Energy company and foundation donate $1 million to benefit young MD Anderson cancer patients

Energy Transfer Partners and Sunoco LP toured Pediatrics at MD Anderson during a visit to present a check for $1 million

Jewelry designer supports MD Anderson Children’s Cancer Hospital

Jewelry designer Kendra Scott has supported MD Anderson since 2014. To date, Kendra Scott has raised more than $170,000 for childhood cancer research and patient care programs at MD Anderson.

Pappas restaurants in Texas held a two-week End Cancer campaign in January to raise money to support cancer research at MD Anderson. Since 2015, Pappas has raised more than $480,000 for MD Anderson through customer donations and the restaurant’s matching funds.

Fourth-grade cancer fighter raises $17,000 for MD Anderson Cancer Center

10-year-old runs half marathon in honor of father

MD Anderson hosts photos with the Easter Bunny at The Galleria

Annual Bunny Hops and Photo Ops event benefits MD Anderson Children’s Cancer Hospital

MD Anderson’s Isaiah Fidler receives AACR’S Foti Award

MD Anderson’s Isaiah Fidler, D.V.M., Ph.D., professor of Cancer Biology and a pioneer in metastasis research, received the 2018 Margaret Foti Award for Leadership and Extraordinary Achievements in Cancer Research in April at the annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research.

National Academy of Sciences honors MD Anderson’s Jim Allison

Jim Allison, Ph.D.., chair of Immunology, has received the Jessie Stevenson Kovalenko Medal of the National Academy of Sciences in honor of his pioneering research in cancer immunotherapy.