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Research funded by Project Cure CRC
Innovation is in progress.
Funding urgent science for today’s patients
The Alliance’s Project Cure CRC continues to make global investments based on expert recommendations and areas of urgent necessity, outlined in this request for proposals. Awardees are listed below.
Funded research
Therapy for MSS disease
Raghu Kalluri, MD, PhD
Dr. Kalluri of MD Anderson Cancer Center aims to develop urgently needed therapeutic options for the 96% of colorectal cancer patients with microsatellite stable (MSS) disease.
Theranostics for BRAF mutations
H. Charles Manning, PhD
H. Charles Manning, PhD, a professor at MD Anderson Cancer Center, will lead a collaborative effort to discover the first theranostic pair for imaging and therapy for patients with CRC.
Immunotherapy for MSS disease
Peter Lee, MD
Dr. Peter Lee of City of Hope will pursue a novel combination immunotherapy to treat metastatic MSS colorectal cancer, which does not respond well to current treatments.
mRNA vaccine for CRC
Kevin Van der Jeught, PhD
Kevin Van Der Jeught, PhD, of the University of Miami, seeks to improve intratumoral mRNA vaccination strategies by targeting immune checkpoints to enhance anti-tumor immune responses.
Targeted radioimmunotherapy
Ekaterina Dadachova, PhD
Ekaterina Dadachova, PhD, of The University of Saskatchewan will investigate combining targeted radiation with immunotherapies for a novel and synergistic approach to treat advanced colorectal cancer, improving clinical outcomes.
New Drug Combinations for BRAF
Yekaterina Y. Zaytseva, PhD
Yekaterina Y. Zaytseva, PhD, of the University of Kentucky, will investigate new drug combinations to kill CRC cells with a BRAF mutation. These cells currently have a low response rate to existing treatments.
Investigating a New Protein
Ashiq Masood, MD
Dr. Masood of Indiana University is studying ProAgio, a new protein that targets cells aiding cancer's survival. This approach could improve therapies for tough-to-treat tumors.
Body Fat & CRC
Caterina Suelzu, PhD
Dr. Suelzu of Anglia Ruskin University will investigate how fat tissue impacts the growth and spread of colorectal cancer, especially in people with obesity.
Innovating with CRISPR
Julia Carnevale, MD
Dr. Carnevale of UCSF will use cutting-edge technology to target multiple genes at once, seeking to uncover weaknesses in cancer cells and boost the body’s immune response.
Stopping the Spread
David Robbins, PhD
Dr. Robbins of Georgetown University aims to target and stop the circulating tumor cells responsible for forming metastatic tumors. Success could improve mCRC survival rates.
Investigating target TSSK6
Angelique Whitehurst, PhD
Evaluating REF-1 Inhibition
Melissa Fishel, PhD
Stopping Harmful Bacteria
Wenhan Zhu, PhD
Evaluating Tryptophanase
Hyunyoung Jeong, PharmD, PhD
Targeting Vulnerabilities In BRCA1-Deficient CRC
Boyi Gan, PhD
Investigating Immune Mechanisms of CRC-PM
Binfeng Lu, PhD
Therapy for MSS metastatic CRC
Nilo Azad, MD
Overcoming Immunotherapy Resistance
Christopher Lengner, PhD
Suppressing mTORC2 Signaling Pathway
Khosrow Rezvani, PhD
Studying Antibody PROTAC Conjugates
Brandon Bordeau, PhD
Eliminating Proteins Involved In CRC Growth
Karin Pelka, PhD
Targeting Novel Drivers of mCRC
Raul Mostoslavsky, MD, PhD
Immunotherapy Targeting T Cells
Lisa Mielke, PhD
Leveraging ctDNA in Early CRC
Eric Christenson, MD
Targeting Tumor Stroma
Heather O'Hagan, PhD
Optimizing Oncolytic Peptide
Aleksander Popel, PhD
Co-STAR Project
Bert Vogelstein, MD
Immunotherapy Conjugate Design
Dae Yong Lee, PhD
Signal Organoid Therapy
Kelvin Pond, PhD
By the numbers: Project Cure CRC
$11.5
million in funding allocated
29
projects supported
$100
million funding goal
Join us
Project Cure CRC seeks research proposals from early-career investigators, senior investigators, teams, startup companies, and others. We prioritize collaboration toward curative science.
Our sponsors
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