Developmental Research Program

Directors

Russell R. Broaddus, M.D., Ph.D.
Daniel Carson, Ph.D.

An important facet of the Endometrial Cancer SPORE Program is to identify and fund innovative new research that can reduce the incidence and mortality of endometrial cancer or improve quality of life for endometrial cancer patients.  The development of innovative translational research concepts, particularly high risk/high payoff studies, is dependent on availability of flexible funding for such pilot projects.  The purpose of the Endometrial Cancer SPORE Developmental Research Program (DRP) is to encourage and develop innovative translational research projects that can lead to clinically testable hypotheses.  Both clinical and laboratory-based research projects are eligible for funding provided that they are translational in nature. High risk/high payoff pilot projects are also supported (and encouraged) under this mechanism. Unlike full SPORE projects, DRP projects do not necessarily reach a “human endpoint”.  The pilot projects may be collaborative among scientists within one or more SPOREs or with scientists outside the SPORE community.  A project funded via this mechanism may have the potential to ultimately develop into a full SPORE project and could be used to replace a project of the Endometrial SPORE if a full project has been completed or is not progressing as expected.

A proportion of the SPORE budget will be allocated annually to support DRP pilot projects.  Each award will be limited to a maximum of $50,000 per year per project.  Two or more projects will be funded each year.  One year of funding will be initially provided, and awardees will be given the option to competitively renew for one additional year.

The Specific Aims of the DRP are the following:

Aim 1:  Fund innovative translational research projects with the potential to address important problems in prevention and treatment of endometrial cancer.  These projects may lay the groundwork for full SPORE projects in the future.

Aim 2:  Fund high risk/high yield pilot projects incorporating novel theoretical concepts, approaches or methodologies, instrumentation, or interventions.  Scientists or clinical investigators from other disciplines may be recruited to participate.  Such projects may shift current theoretical or clinical research paradigms thereby leading to more effective treatment or prevention, and better outcomes for endometrial cancer patients.

Aim 3:  Increase the breadth and diversity of endometrial cancer scientists, especially with individuals from underrepresented or disadvantaged backgrounds. Foster interactions and collaborations between translational scientists within one or more SPOREs or with non-SPORE scientists at the national level, with the shared goal of advancing research with the most immediate impact to improve outcomes for endometrial cancer patients or improve prevention strategies.  

Funding Information

• Solicitations for proposals come out late spring/early summer each year.
• Funding is for $50,000 total costs.
• Funding is for one year beginning Sept. 1 and ending Aug. 31 each year.
• A progress report will be due at the end of the funding period.
• Competitive renewal for 1 additional year is allowed.

Solicitations for proposals will be posted to this webpage. You may also contact the SPORE Principal Investigators for further information (see contact information page).

Developmental Research Awards

2003-2004

• Richard R. Behringer, Ph.D.
  UT MD Anderson Cancer Center
  Transgenic mice for endometrium-specific modifications
• Jennifer K. Richer, Ph.D., and Meenakshi Singh, M.D.
  University of Colorado Health Sciences Center
  Alterations in co-activator levels in endometrial cancer

2004-2005

• Mark T. Bedford, Ph.D.
  UT MD Anderson Cancer Center
  Arginine methyltransferases as novel therapeutic targets for endometrial carcinoma
• Diego H. Castrillon, M.D., Ph.D.
  UT Southwestern
  Genetic mechanisms of endometrial carcinogenesis
• Shi-Wen Jiang, M.D. and Sean Dowdy, M.D.
  Mayo Clinic
  Preclinical studies on epigenetic modification reagents for endometrial cancer treatment

2005-2006

• Donghai Dai, M.D., Ph.D.
  University of New Mexico Health Science Center
  Synergistic anti-cancer effect of paclitaxel and amifostine in poor outcome endometrial cancer

2006-2007

• Constance T. Albarracin, M.D., Ph.D.
  UT MD Anderson Cancer Center
  MicroRNA profiling to identify functional gene targets in endometrial carcinoma
• Cheryl Walker, Ph.D.
  UT MD Anderson Cancer Center
  Using LKB1 Knockout Mouse Model to Develop New Models for Endometrial Carcinoma

2007-2008

• Jae-Wook Jeong, Ph.D.
  Baylor College of Medicine
  The role of Mig-6 in the tumorigenesis of endometrial cancer
• Bo Rueda, Ph.D.
  Harvard Medical School
  Delineating the unique gene expression features of the endometrial tumor initiating cell fraction
• Anil K. Sood, M.D. and Robert Coleman, M.D.
  UT MD Anderson Cancer Center
  EphA2 targeting for anti-vascular therapy of endometrial carcinoma

2008-2009

• Anil K. Sood, M.D. and Robert Coleman, M.D. (Renewal)
  UT MD Anderson Cancer Center
  EphA2 targeting for anti-vascular therapy of endometrial carcinoma

2010-2011

• Daniel Carson, Ph.D.
  Rice University
  MUC1-Targeted Nanoparticle Therapy for Endometrial Cancers
• Wei Zhang, Ph.D.
  UT MD Anderson Cancer Center
  Identification of Recurrent Genomic Aberrations as Potential Prognostic Markers and Therapeutic Targets in Endometrial Carcinoma
  

2011-2012

• Daniel Carson, Ph.D. (Renewal)
  Rice University
  MUC1-Targeted Nanoparticle Therapy for Endometrial Cancers
• Selvindiran Karuppaiyah, Ph.D.
  Ohio State University
  Targeting STAT3 for Molecular Therapy of Endometrial Cancer

2012-2013

• Samuel Mok, Ph.D.
  UT MD Anderson Cancer Center
  The Role of Omentin in the Pathogenesis of Endometrial Cancer
• Pedro Ramirez, M.D.
  UT MD Anderson Cancer Center
  High-Resolution Microendoscopy for Hysteroscopic Resection of Uterine Cancer

2013-2014

• Samuel Mok, Ph.D.
  UT MD Anderson Cancer Center
  UHCL-1 as a Potential Therapeutic Target in Uterine Papillary Serous Carcinoma
• Dharini van der Hoeven, Ph.D.
  University of Texas Health Science Center - Houston
  Characterization of Effect of Novel K-Ras Inhibitors on K-Ras-Transformed Tumor Growth in Mouse Model of Endometrial Cancer

2014-2015

• Melinda Yates, Ph.D.
  UT MD Anderson Cancer Center
  Novel Intrauterine Drug Delivery for Chemoprevention and Therapeutics

2016-2017

• Lilie Lin, M.D.
         UT MD Anderson Cancer Center?
         Checkpoint Inhibition Combined with Radiotherapy for Metastatic Uterine Carcinoma
• Shiaw-Yih Lin, Ph.D.
         UT MD Anderson Cancer Center
         Signature-guided Therapy for Mismatch Repair Defective Endometrial Cancer

2017-2018

• Yuexin Liu, Ph.D.
         UT MD Anderson Cancer Center
         Comprehensive Characterization of Immune Response in Endometrial Cancer
• Melinda Yates, Ph.D.
        UT MD Anderson Cancer Center
        Role of genetics and hormones in early immune events in endometrial cancer

2018-2019

• Nicole Fleming, M.D., and Yuexin Liu, Ph.D.
        UT MD Anderson Cancer Center
        Molecular Classification of Uterine Carcinosarcoma via Integrated Genomic Analysis
• Liang Liu, Ph.D.
        UT MD Anderson Cancer Center
        Mutations in TP53 Underlying Aggressive Endometrial Cancer in African Americans
• Guang Peng, Ph.D.
        UT MD Anderson Cancer Center
        Mutanome-Directed IMmunotherapy in ARID1A-Deficient Cancer

2019-2020

• Amir Jazaeri, M.D.
        UT MD Anderson Cancer Center
        Immunogenomic analysis of MSI-H endometrial to identify biomarkers of response and novel therapeutic targets

2020-2021

• Sarah J. Hill, M.D., Ph.D.
        Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
        Profiling the DNA damage repair capacity of endometrial cancers
• Jason Merker, M.D., Ph.D.
        The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
        RNA sequencing of archived formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) specimens from patients with endometrial cancer (EC) receiving pembrolizumab