Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The National Cancer Institute awarded a $294,451 Project Grant under the Cancer Research Manpower program (CFDA 93.398) to Sloan-Kettering Institute for Cancer Research on June 5, 2026, with completion anticipated by May 31, 2031. This award supports a career development research program investigating the inflammatory mechanisms underlying VEXAS (Vacuoles, E1 Enzyme, X-Linked, Autoinflammatory, Somatic) syndrome. The principal investigator, Dr. Narendra, under the mentorship of Dr. Alexander Gitlin and Dr. Scott Lowe, will conduct research examining how somatic mutations in the UBA1 ubiquitin-activating enzyme gene drive autoinflammatory disease and myeloid malignancy.

The grant funds two primary research objectives: (1) determining the cell-intrinsic and cell-extrinsic factors that promote clonal expansion and myeloid differentiation bias of UBA1-mutant hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells, and (2) evaluating inflammatory cell death as a therapeutic target in VEXAS pathogenesis. The research utilizes genetically controlled primary cell-based models to elucidate disease mechanisms at the intersection of myeloid malignancy and innate immune signaling, with potential applications to understanding related autoinflammatory conditions and myelodysplastic syndromes. This career development award integrates research training with mentored scientific investigation to support the candidate's transition to an independent research career in cancer biology and immunology.