This $477,151 Project Grant was awarded on September 1, 2023 by the Defense Health Agency under the Military Medical Research and Development program (CFDA 12.420) to the University of Kansas Medical Center Research Institute, Inc. (KUMCRI). The purpose of the grant is to study how neoplasia-derived extracellular vesicle microRNAs can promote DNA damage and carcinogenesis in Barrett's esophagus, with the goal of identifying novel targets for chemical ablation.
The grant includes two sub-awards totaling $282,971 to Baylor Research Institute. Under the first sub-award, Baylor will generate preliminary data on how extracellular vesicle communication can transform benign Barrett's cells into neoplastic cells by promoting DNA damage. They will also assess the potential of microRNA inhibition to halt this process. Under the second sub-award, Baylor will investigate whether PARP inhibitors can selectively induce apoptosis in Barrett's cells with defective DNA repair, to potentially develop a molecularly-targeted ablative therapy.
Generated 8/13/24, 9:18 AM