Dr. Kun Cheng, the UMKC School of Pharmacy’s Sperry Family Fund Endowed Chair in Geriatric Pharmaceutical Research, focuses his research on developing new drug delivery systems and therapeutic strategies to improve treatments for cancer, liver diseases, Alzheimer’s disease and other age-related conditions.

His recent progress includes earning a U.S. patent for a novel anti-PD-L1 peptide that can potentially be used for cancer immunotherapy and diagnosis. Cheng’s work also has promising implications for pancreatic cancer, a disease often detected late and difficult to treat.

Cheng credits this progress to the endowed chair position, made possible because of the generosity of the late Robert Sperry, who wished to establish this fund, and his mother, Ruth, who ensured UMKC received the support after his passing.

“The endowed chair has provided stability, resources and the freedom to pursue ambitious research that will make a lasting impact,” Cheng said. “Because of the support, we are able to devote more time to developing new therapies for Alzheimer’s disease, designing delivery systems that can cross the blood-brain barrier, exploring innovative ideas and collaborating with colleagues in ways that enrich both my work and the broader academic community.”

Mentorship is also central to Cheng’s impact. In the past year, he proudly graduated four Ph.D. students and trained a postdoctoral fellow. Many of Cheng’s graduates have gone on to prestigious roles as faculty members and researchers. One recent graduate is now a tenure-track professor at Binghamton University, continuing research on PD-L1 for cancer immunotherapy.

Through groundbreaking discoveries and commitment to shaping future scientists, Cheng’s work exemplifies how innovation and mentorship drive progress in cancer and aging research, creating lasting impact beyond the lab.