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Researchers at Huntsman Cancer Institute at the (the U) have secured three separate grants from the (ACS), totaling more than $2 million, to advance groundbreaking cancer research, support early-career scientists, and establish a training program to help students transition from undergraduate to graduate-level education. Announced on December 31, 2024, this funding will propel innovative studies aimed at unlocking new treatments and improving patient outcomes.
鈥淭丑别se recent awards highlight efforts across Huntsman Cancer Institute鈥檚 training continuum, and we are deeply grateful to the American Cancer Society for supporting this mission.鈥
鈥淭丑别se recent awards highlight efforts across Huntsman Cancer Institute鈥檚 training continuum, and we are deeply grateful to the American Cancer Society for supporting this mission,鈥 says , senior director of Cancer Training and Career Enhancement at Huntsman Cancer Institute and professor in the Department of Oncological Sciences at the U. 鈥淚 also want to commend Dr. Ayer for his dedication to leading these initiatives. Additionally, we are proud to celebrate the achievements of Dr. Warde, a postdoctoral scholar who received an individual fellowship, and Dr. Judson-Torres, a rising star among our faculty.鈥
Institutional Research Grant and Postbaccalaureate Fellows Program
, received two ACS grants: one for and another for funding a training program designed to help undergraduate students transition to graduate school in cancer research.
鈥淭丑别 is designed to foster a broader range of perspectives in the biomedical research workforce,鈥 says Ayer. 鈥淚t pairs exceptional scholars from all backgrounds with dedicated faculty mentors in a state-of-the-art cancer research environment. They will participate in mentored research, cancer-focused coursework, and professional development workshops.鈥
鈥淭his program will serve as an important steppingstone for training future scientists.鈥
Aiming to inspire a strong interest in cancer research and foster advanced research skills, this program will prepare participants for successful pursuits after they graduate from college. It will support four scholars during a two-year training experience.
The institutional research grant awards three $40,000 pilot grants annually to early-career faculty working on cancer-focused projects in basic, clinical, or population-based research. Both grants run through December 31, 2027. 鈥淭his program will serve as an important steppingstone for training future scientists, while the renewal of the institutional research grant enables us to continue supporting the innovative work of early career faculty,鈥 Ullman says.
Postdoctoral Fellowship to Advance Immunotherapy Research
, received a temporary research position after earning her doctorate to investigate the role androgen mediated anti-tumor immunity and how it could potentially serve as a cancer therapy.
鈥淏y understanding these mechanisms, we aim to develop innovative treatments for adenoid cystic carcinoma and other cancers where elevated androgen levels enhance outcomes.鈥
鈥淯sing an adrenal cancer mouse model, we observed that male mice with higher androgen levels showed stronger immune responses and were protected from metastatic disease,鈥 says Warde. 鈥淚n contrast, female and castrated male mice exhibited weaker immunity and increased tumor growth. By understanding these mechanisms, we aim to develop innovative treatments for adenoid cystic carcinoma and other cancers where elevated androgen levels enhance outcomes.鈥
Research Scholar Grant for Melanoma Prevention
, obtained a research scholar grant to explore how genetic predisposition and carcinogenic signaling contribute to melanoma.
鈥淲e aim to use these insights to create topical treatments that reduce melanoma risk in vulnerable skin types."
鈥淚n collaboration with dermatologists at Huntsman Cancer Institute鈥檚 , we analyzed skin samples from high-risk donors to identify cellular differences from low-risk individuals,鈥 says Judson-Torres. 鈥淭his research allows us to develop models that replicate these differences and explore their role in melanoma development. Ultimately, we aim to use these insights to create topical treatments that reduce melanoma risk in vulnerable skin types.鈥
A National Commitment to Cancer Research
Altogether, the ACS awarded to investigators at 106 institutions across the country, totaling total more than $98 million in new research funding.
鈥淭his funding from the American Cancer Society is a testament to the groundbreaking research happening at Huntsman Cancer Institute,鈥 says , chief scientific officer and executive director of the Comprehensive Cancer Center at Huntsman Cancer Institute. 鈥淪upporting early-career scientists and fostering the next generation of cancer researchers is essential to driving discovery and improving patient outcomes. We are incredibly proud of Drs. Ayer, Judson-Torres, and Warde for securing these competitive grants, which will help advance our mission to better understand and treat cancer. We deeply appreciate ACS鈥檚 commitment to funding innovative research that holds the potential to transform cancer care.鈥
鈥淭his funding from the American Cancer Society is a testament to the groundbreaking research happening at Huntsman Cancer Institute.鈥
Christina Annunziata, MD, PhD, leader of the Extramural Discovery Science team at the ACS, says, 鈥淭his represents a significant investment in the most promising cancer research being done in the United States today, regardless of cancer type,鈥 says. 鈥淏y funding studies ranging from basic molecular research all the way through interventional trials, we are able to support work targeted at benefiting patients and their families in the short term while laying the foundation for future advances as well.鈥
鈥淭his represents a significant investment in the most promising cancer research being done in the United States today, regardless of cancer type.鈥
The ACS is the largest non-government, non-profit funder of cancer research in the United States. With an investment of more than $5 billion since 1946, the ACS has a legacy of supporting life-saving cancer research, including supporting the work of 53 Nobel Prize-winning researchers.
鈥淲e take our commitment to funding cutting-edge cancer research seriously and intend to do so well into the future,鈥 says William Dahut, MD, chief science officer at the ACS. 鈥淲e are excited about the innovative projects we were able to fund in 2024 and welcome these new grantees into our ACS Research Family and wish them the best of luck with their important work.鈥
The ACS currently funds more than . Learn more about changes to upcoming for summer and winter 2025.
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Huntsman Cancer Institute
801 581-3194
public.affairs@hci.utah.edu
About Huntsman Cancer Institute at the 人妻中出视频 of Utah
Huntsman Cancer Institute at the is the National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center for Utah, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, and Wyoming. With a legacy of innovative cancer research, groundbreaking discoveries, and world-class patient care, we are transforming the way cancer is understood, prevented, diagnosed, treated, and survived. Huntsman Cancer Institute focuses on delivering the most advanced cancer healing and prevention through scientific breakthroughs and cutting-edge technology to advance cancer treatments of the future beyond the standard of care today. We have more than 300 open clinical trials and 250 research teams studying cancer. More genes for inherited cancers have been discovered at Huntsman Cancer Institute than at any other cancer center. Our scientists are world-renowned for understanding how cancer begins and using that knowledge to develop innovative approaches to treat each patient鈥檚 unique disease. Huntsman Cancer Institute was founded by Jon M. and Karen Huntsman.
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The critical research happening every day at Huntsman Cancer Institute is supported by the National Institutes of 人妻中出视频/National Cancer Institute, including cancer center support grant P30 CA042014, as well as Huntsman Cancer Foundation.