Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The National Cancer Institute awarded The Johns Hopkins University a $109,076 Project Grant under the Cancer Research Manpower program (CFDA 93.398) effective January 16, 2026, with completion targeted for July 31, 2028. The research initiative, titled "Defining the Role of ACSS2 in T Cell Adaptation to Metabolic Stress," focuses on elucidating the function of acetyl-CoA synthetase 2 (ACSS2) as a metabolic checkpoint in T cell responses within tumor microenvironments. The project investigates how T cells adapt to metabolic stress conditions including hypoxia and nutrient depletion, which present significant barriers to anti-tumor immune responses and immunotherapy efficacy.

The funded research delivers scientific investigation products through multiple research aims designed to characterize ACSS2's subcellular localization and function in T cells under metabolic stress conditions. Preliminary findings indicate that ACSS2 genetic loss causes excessive T cell proliferation and hyperactivation under hypoxic stress but paradoxically results in depletion of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in tumor models. The project will generate foundational knowledge regarding ACSS2's role as a metabolic sensor that integrates nutrient and oxygen availability with epigenetic gene expression changes, with potential implications for immunotherapy optimization and understanding T cell behavior in challenging immunological environments.