Prince Minkah Awarded College of Pharmacy Skaggs Fellowship
Prince Minkah (UROC Innovations) was awarded a College of Pharmacy Skaggs Fellowship for 2025-2026. His research focuses on developing selenium-functionalized sulfated hyaluronic acid (sHASe) compounds as novel therapeutics for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and other solid tumors, particularly in cases where tumors have developed resistance to current therapies. By targeting pathways such as CXCL12/CXCR4, VEGFC/VEGFR3, and NRF2, sHASe compounds aim to both inhibit tumor progression and restore sensitivity to treatment. This work bridges polymeric drug delivery, redox biology, and cancer therapeutics, and is motivated by the urgent need for safer, more effective therapies for patients with resistant disease.
Prince shared, “The Skaggs Fellowship represents far more than financial support—it is an investment in my potential to advance cancer therapeutics. Just as importantly, it is a recognition that my ideas and efforts matter within the broader scientific community, which is deeply motivating. When I received the news about the fellowship, I was both humbled and energized. It was an affirming moment that validated countless hours of research, setbacks, and perseverance. I feel deeply grateful to the Skaggs family for their generosity, and also inspired to live up to the trust and responsibility that come with this award.”
Prince is especially excited to explore how redox-regulating sHASe compounds can selectively modulate oxidative stress in tumors to induce ferroptosis while sparing healthy tissue, and looks forward to developing next-generation designs of sHASe that combine tumor targeting with stimuli-responsive release mechanisms, making them smarter and more potent therapeutics. His long-term goal is to contribute to a new generation of glycosaminoglycan-based redox therapeutics that expand treatment options for patients with resistant and aggressive cancers.
