This Cooperative Agreement award from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), under the Oral Diseases and Disorders Research (CFDA 93.121) program, provides $638,903 to validate a novel prognostic biomarker for oropharynx cancer (OPC) in over 1,000 diverse patients across the U.S., Europe, and South America. The primary objectives are to 1) analytically validate the HPVHet score to establish reliability across populations and optimize risk stratification, and 2) translate the HPVHet score as an imaging biomarker through a validated machine learning algorithm, OPSCCNET, that combines molecular and spatial data to capture tumor heterogeneity. Validation of this clinically accessible prognostic biomarker could lead to a paradigm shift in OPC treatment and patient quality of life by enabling more personalized, risk-based care decisions. The grant was awarded on March 12, 2025 with a planned completion date of December 31, 2029. The lead institution for this multi-institutional project is Washington University.
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