Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) awarded a Project Grant of $123,823 to the University of Maryland, Baltimore under the Cancer Research Manpower program (CFDA 93.398) for the period June 1, 2026 through May 31, 2028. This award supports research and training activities focused on characterizing transcriptomic, genomic, and microenvironmental heterogeneity in pancreatic precancerous lesions, specifically intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) and pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN). The project aims to develop multi-omic phenotypes and classification algorithms to distinguish high-risk lesions that are likely to progress to pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) from indolent lesions, thereby enabling earlier therapeutic intervention.

The funded research integrates computational biology and multi-omics analysis—including genomic, transcriptomic, and epigenomic data—to identify molecular drivers of dysplastic progression in pancreatic precancers. Key deliverables include the development of a novel classification algorithm for cross-comparison of phenotypes across different tissue types and cohorts, creation of a public web-based platform for dissemination of results, and application of an algorithm to quantify single-cell differentiation status in the context of dysplastic progression. By addressing the critical gap in early detection and risk stratification of pancreatic precancers, this project supports NCI's strategic priorities in cancer research training and workforce development within basic and translational oncology research.