The new K.C. Nicolaou Research Accelerator has been jointly established by AbbVie (https://www.abbvie.com/) and Rice University Houston and will focus its activities on the synthesis of novel cytotoxic agents against cancer. TheĀ  new laboratory will be led by Dr. Nicolaou – the first to achieve the full synthesis of the cancer drug paclitaxel – and it will represent a new model integrative and deeper collaborative structure connecting industry and university.