Federal Grant Award Summary

The National Cancer Institute's Cancer Detection and Diagnosis Research Program (CFDA 93.394) awarded $706,479 to the University of Massachusetts on June 11, 2026, for a five-year project extending through May 31, 2031. The project focuses on developing and validating whole bladder urothelial resurfacing (WBUR) using irreversible electroporation (IRE) as an adjuvant therapy for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). The research addresses a critical clinical need, as over 70% of bladder cancer patients are diagnosed with early-stage localized disease, yet experience significant local tumor recurrence within five years following standard transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) and intravesical adjuvant therapy. The project will design and validate IRE devices that use pulsed electric fields to induce rapid cell death and debulk malignancy throughout the entire bladder while preserving the extracellular matrix and normal lumen function.

The deliverables under this project grant include development of IRE technology capable of performing whole bladder ablation of microscopic tumors and premalignant lesions, validation of the technology through preclinical studies, and investigation of synergistic effects when combined with existing intravesical adjuvant therapies. Building on prior successful IRE device development in other organ systems (ureter, bile duct, and bronchus), this research aims to establish an alternative ablative approach that avoids complications associated with thermal ablation or ionizing radiation in the bladder. The award supports both basic technology development and translational research to improve cancer-free survival outcomes in NMIBC patients.