Emory university lung cancer spore - overall summary/abstract lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths, with more than 1.8 million deaths/year globally

The National Cancer Institute awarded Emory University $2.194 million under the Cancer Centers Support Grants program (CFDA 93.397) on August 18, 2026, to support the Emory Lung Cancer SPORE (Specialized Program of Research Excellence).

The award funds a revised research program focused on three specific aims: examining novel inhibitory molecules expressed by stem-like CD8 T cells and conducting a clinical trial to evaluate a novel immunotherapy combination approach for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC); utilizing an artificial intelligence-informed systems biology approach to predict outcomes in stage III NSCLC patients, leveraging a recently completed phase III ECOG-ACRIN clinical trial; and interrogating a noncanonical mitochondrial signaling pathway that mediates lung cancer metastasis. The program builds on findings from the current SPORE, first funded in 2019, and brings together a multidisciplinary team of clinical oncologists, immunologists, computational scientists, drug discovery experts, and translational investigators to address critical questions aimed at improving outcomes for patients with NSCLC.

Performance occurs in Atlanta, Georgia. The period of performance extends through July 31, 2031. Emory University's Office of Sponsored Programs is the recipient.

IT is often diagnosed at an advanced stage and is associated with poor outcomes for most patients. This revised application for the emory lung cancer spore award includes an outstanding multi-disciplinary team of clinical oncologists, immunologists, computational scientists, drug discovery experts, and translational investigators dedicated to lung cancer research with a track-record of productive collaborations to address critical questions that will improve the outcome for patients with this lethal disease. Building on the success and findings from our current spore, which was first funded in 2019, our proposed program will have significant impact on: enhancing the efficacy of immunotherapy in lung cancer, using artificial intelligence (AI) to predict outcomes for stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and developing novel approaches to target a noncanonical mitochondrial signaling pathway that mediates lung cancer metastasis. Through strong teamwork carried out by this highly collaborative team of dedicated investigators, and building on exciting data published in leading journals by our group during the present spore funding period, this proposal aims to achieve substantial improvements in the management of patients with NSCLC, through three overall specific aims: aim 1: to examine the novel inhibitory molecules selectively expressed by the stem-like CD8 T cells and how they orchestrate stem- like cell function and interactions with myeloid cells in NSCLC and to conduct a clinical trial to evaluate a novel immunotherapy combination approach for advanced NSCLC (project 1); aim 2: to utilize an innovative AI-informed systems biology approach to predict outcomes in stage III NSCLC patients, leveraging a recently completed phase III ecog-acrin clinical trial (project 2); and aim 3: to interrogate metabolic enzyme SUCLA2 as a novel therapeutic target for NSCLC (project 3). The emory lung cancer spore program will be supported by three integrated cores, the administrative core (core a), pathology core (core B) and the biostatistics and biomedical informatics core (core C) and will conduct career enhancement and developmental research programs (CEP and DRP). The spore program will receive guidance from highly qualified external and internal advisory board members and input from our patient advocates regarding its progress and direction. Our program will receive strong institutional support including modern research space, excellent shared resources, and a significant level of matching funds (totaling $2.25M). Through team-driven innovative research efforts in immunotherapies, AI-powered biomarker discovery, and targeted therapeutics, we are confident that this spore program, in collaboration with other NCI lung cancer spore sites, will have a major impact on improving the lives of patients with lung cancer.