Dr. Yi Li MS’18, assistant professor of bioengineeringSFT is a rare cancer that develops when two genes, NAB2 and STAT6, become fused together, resulting in signals that initiate cancer-cell growth. Hayenga, who led SFT research at UT Dallas, died on April 5 from the disease. The research funded by the CPRIT grants is the latest effort by Li and other UT Dallas researchers to carry on her legacy to find effective treatments. In May, CPRIT awarded Li a $249,000 high impact/high risk grant (RP260816) to develop a potential immunotherapy treatment for SFT. Dr. Shalini Prasad, professor and department head of bioengineering, said the state funding to develop treatments for solitary fibrous tumor is especially meaningful.