Multidisciplinary Research Projects

Multidisciplinary research projects (MRPs) are designed to accelerate the translation of discoveries made in basic immunology research into the development of various forms of cancer immunotherapy. There are six MRPs that are currently funded by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS), the W. M. Keck Foundation, the National Cancer Institute (NCI), and the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (ARRA). CCIR investigators continue to collaborate with investigators inside and outside MD Anderson to establish additional MRPs that focus on the tumor microenvironment, innate immunity, inflammation, immunosuppression and targeted therapy.

Currently Funded MRPs

LLS Specialized Center of Research (SCOR)*: Translational Development of Novel Vaccine Therapies
Award Period: October 1, 2007 – September 30, 2012
Principal Investigator: Larry W. Kwak, M.D., Ph.D.
Institution: MD Anderson
W. M. Keck Foundation*: Research Center for Cancer Vaccines
Award Period: January 1, 2008 – December 31, 2011
Principal Investigator: Larry Kwak, M.D., Ph.D.; Co-investigators: Patrick Hwu, M.D.
Institution: MD Anderson
NCI PO1*: Activation of Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells (pDCs) to Induce Antitumor Activity
Award Period: September 10, 2008 – August 31, 2013
Principal Investigators: Patrick Hwu, M.D.; Yong-Jun Liu, M.D., Ph.D.
Institution: MD Anderson
NCI P50: MD Anderson Lymphoma SPORE
Award Period: September 1, 2009 – August 31, 2012
Principal Investigator: Anas Younes, M.D.; Co-investigator: Larry W. Kwak, M.D., Ph.D.
Institutions: MD Anderson, University of Nebraska Medical Center
ARRA GO: Transcriptome and epigenome analysis of helper T cell specification and plasticity
Award Period: September 29, 2009 – August 31, 2012
Principal Investigator: Chen Dong, Ph.D.
Institutions: MD Anderson, Baylor College of Medicine, Institute for Systems Biology
NCI P50: MD Anderson Multiple Myeloma SPORE
Award Period: July 1, 2010 – June 30, 2015
Principal Investigator: Robert Orlowski, M.D.; Co-investigator: Larry W. Kwak, M.D., Ph.D.
Institutions: MD Anderson, University of Pennsylvania, Virginia Commonwealth University

*the name of the MRP is linked to a pdf showing an overview of the research project

Previously Funded MRPs

NIAID U19: Asthma and Allergic Diseases Cooperative Research Center
Award Period: July 1, 2006 - June 30, 2011
Principal Investigator: Yong-Jun Liu, M.D., Ph.D.
Institutions: MD Anderson, Baylor College of Medicine, Benaroyal Research Institute

Highlights

NIAID Cooperative Research Center for Asthma and Inflammation: Laura Bover, Ph.D.; Chen Dong, Ph.D.; Yong-Jun Liu, M.D., Ph.D.; and Kui Voo, Ph.D.
W. M. Keck Foundation Research Center for Cancer Vaccines: Patrick Hwu, M.D.; Larry Kwak, M.D., Ph.D.; and Yong-Jun Liu, M.D., Ph.D.
Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Specialized Center of Research (SCOR): Chen Dong, Ph.D.; Jeffrey Molldrem, M.D.; Larry Kwak, M.D., Ph.D.; Yong-Jun Liu, M.D., Ph.D.; Laura Bover, Ph.D.; and Kui Voo, Ph.D.
National Cancer Institute P01: Laszlo Radvanyi, Ph.D.; Willem Overwijk, Ph.D.; Patrick Hwu, M.D.; Yong-Jun Liu, M.D. Ph.D.; Michel Gilliet, M.D.; and Luis Vence, Ph.D.