Cancer “Team Science” Efforts Get Boost

Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center’s Specialized Programs of Research Excellence (SPOREs) in breast cancer, lung cancer and gastrointestinal cancer were recently renewed by the National Cancer Institute. The NCI established organ-specific SPOREs in 1992 to promote interdisciplinary research with a “translational” emphasis that spans the gap from basic
science discovery to clinical application.

VICC is one of only seven centers to hold three or more SPORE grants.

BREAST SPORE
Vanderbilt-Ingram’s SPORE in Breast Cancer – first funded in 2002 – was renewed in 2008, providing $12 million over five years. Carlos Arteaga, M.D., is program director and Jennifer Pietenpol, Ph.D., is co-director.

The grant supports four research projects led by: Arteaga; Pietenpol; Ingrid Mayer, M.D.; Gregory Mundy, M.D.; Jeffrey Smith, M.D., Ph.D.; and William Dupont, Ph.D.

LUNG SPORE
In 2007, Vanderbilt-Ingram’s SPORE in Lung Cancer received a renewal of $11.5 million over five years. It is one of only six lung cancer SPOREs in the country and is directed by David Carbone, M.D., Ph.D.

Project leaders for the grant’s five research projects are: Carbone; Pierre Massion, M.D.; Daniel Liebler, Ph.D.; Yu Shyr, Ph.D.; David Johnson, M.D.; Richard Breyer, Ph.D.; Joe Amann, Ph.D.; Thao Dang, M.D.; Pran Datta, Ph.D.; Harold Moses, M.D.; Alan Sandler, M.D.; Qiuyin Cai, M.D., Ph.D.; and William Blot, Ph.D.

GI SPORE
Also in 2007, Vanderbilt-Ingram’s SPORE in Gastrointestinal Cancer – one of only five such programs in the country – was renewed, providing $11.8 million over five years. Robert Coffey, M.D., is the program director.

The GI SPORE supports four research projects led by: Coffey; Jordan Berlin, M.D.; Daniel Beauchamp, M.D.; Ethan Lee, M.D., Ph.D.; Albert Reynolds, Ph.D.; Mary Kay Washington, M.D., Ph.D.; Reid Ness, M.D., M.P.H.; and Wei Zheng, M.D., Ph.D., M.P.H.

– by Melissa Marino