Greater Boston Head and Neck Cancer SPORE Proposal Submitted

The proposal for a Greater Boston Head and Neck Cancer Specialized Program of Research Excellence (SPORE) was submitted to the National Cancer Institute earlier this month. Led by Dr. Maria Kukuruzinska, Associate Dean for Research at the Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine, and Dr. Robert Haddad, Disease Center Leader in Head and Neck Oncology at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, the SPORE brings together exceptional scientific expertise, resources and clinical care in head and neck cancer at six major Boston area institutions, with the long-term goal of mobilizing and enhancing the research workforce dedicated to the treatment of head and neck cancer. The participating institutions are Boston University, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Massachusetts General Hospital, Brown University and the Forsyth Institute.

The SPORE program promotes collaborative, interdisciplinary translational cancer research. Successful SPOREs include both basic and applied science working together to support projects that will explore novel approaches to the prevention, early detection, diagnosis and treatment of human cancers. Each SPORE is focused on a specific organ or group of highly related cancers, or a common theme or pathway that ties together the cancers under study. SPOREs are required to reach a human end-point within the five year funding period. Currently, there are 52 funded SPOREs across the nation.

The proposed Greater Boston Head and Neck Cancer SPORE is composed of four scientific projects, three shared resource cores, a Career Enhancement Program and a Developmental Research Program. The proposed scientific projects are:

• Project 1: PI3K Antagonism in High Risk HNSCC, led by Dr. Peter Hammerman, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Dr. Ann Marie Egloff, Boston University, and Dr. Jochen Lorch, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute;
• Project 2: Targeting β-catenin/CBP Signaling in HNSCC and Immune Resistance, led by Dr. Maria Kukuruzinska, Dr. Bob Varelas, Boston University, Dr. Sara Pai, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Dr. Lori Wirth, Massachusetts General Hospital;
• Project 3: Epigenetic Immune Biomarkers of Survival in HNSCC Epidemiology, led by Dr. Karl Kelsey, Brown University, and Dr. Robert Haddad;
• Project 4: Interventions that Target Oral Microbiome-Host Signature Pathways in OSCC, led by Dr. Philip Stashenko, Forsyth Institute, Dr. David Sherr, Boston University, Dr. Scharukh Jalisi, Boston University, and Dr. Nicole Chau, Dana-Farber University.

The three proposed cores include an Administrative Core, a Biostatistics, Bioinformatics and Data Management Core and a Pathology and Biospecimens Core. The Career Enhancement Program is intended to prepare new investigators for successful careers in head and neck cancer translational research. The Developmental Research Program aims to attract and explore promising translational studies and innovative high-risk/high impact projects focused on head and neck cancer.

The SPORE proposal will be reviewed in September/October with Advisory Council review in January 2017 and a potential start date of May 2017. “The SPORE mechanism provides a unique opportunity to support our collaborative multi-institutional translational research program in head and neck cancer.” said Dr. Maria Kukuruzinska. “Bringing together so many different individuals and institutions has been a long and challenging process but I am confident that we have assembled the optimal team and structure for success.”