MusiQ Bio Secured $2.59 Million for Cancer Therapy
The Dallas-based startup will fund research into microbubble-based drug delivery systems.
Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in Biotech
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The Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas has awarded a $2.59 million grant to MusiQ Bio, a UT Southwestern Medical Center spinoff. This research-stage funding supports the development of a platform using ultrasound-triggered microbubbles to deliver immunotherapies.
Why it matters
The grant aims to advance therapies that prime the immune system to recognize and attack tumors. It represents a continuation of work from the Lux Lab that previously demonstrated tumor suppression in preclinical mouse models.
The MUSIC technology platform utilizes microbubbles attached to cGAMP, a molecule that activates the immune system, and antibodies. In 2022, research in mouse breast cancer models showed the treatment could lead to tumor growth reduction compared to untreated control groups.
The players
MusiQ Bio
A Dallas-based startup and UT Southwestern Medical Center spinoff developing microbubble-based drug delivery platforms.
Jacques Lux
A co-founder of MusiQ Bio and principal investigator who led the original research on ultrasound-mediated drug delivery.
Sina Khorsandi
A co-founder of MusiQ Bio who began researching the underlying technology as a graduate student in 2018.
Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas
A state-funded organization that provides capital to research institutions and biotech companies for cancer-related therapeutics.
The details
The platform functions by binding microbubbles to antigen-presenting cells—specialized immune cells that display foreign substances to T-cells. When exposed to external ultrasound pressure, these microbubbles collapse, creating transient pores in the tissue to facilitate the delivery of gene therapies or other agents. This mechanical disruption allows for targeted administration of cGAMP to modulate the immune response within the tumor microenvironment.
Timeline
2018: Sina Khorsandi joined the lab as a graduate student.
2021: Jacques Lux and UT Southwestern received a $250,000 grant.
2022: Researchers reported reduced tumor growth in mouse models.
September 29, 2026: MusiQ Bio received the $2.59 million grant.
Within five years: The startup plans to conduct human clinical trials.
The Tech Race
This project moves the Lux Lab's work out of the university and into a commercial development phase. It follows a research trajectory similar to other ultrasound-mediated delivery efforts currently seeking to overcome the challenges of systemic immune therapy administration.
This development remains in the research phase and does not currently affect patient treatment options. The team expects to pursue human clinical trials within the next five years to establish the safety and efficacy of the MUSIC platform.
The takeaway
The grant enables MusiQ Bio to scale its microbubble delivery research toward potential human clinical testing. Watch for future disclosures regarding the specific tumor types prioritized for the first round of clinical trials.
Further reading
For more on local innovation in medical technology, explore the Biotech section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Dallas Innovates.
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