The federal Project Grant award of $366,000.00 from the National Cancer Institute (NCI), under the Cancer Treatment Research program (CFDA 93.395), supports research at Northwestern University to develop a novel approach to overcome resistance to immunotherapy in melanoma. The key products and services to be delivered under this 5-year grant include:
Determining the mechanism by which the UNC-51-like kinase 1 (ULK1) mediates the immunosuppressive effects of interferon-gamma in melanoma cells, including the role of ULK1-mediated phosphorylation of IRF1. The project will also assess the direct impact of ULK1 on immune cell function and response to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in vivo using genetic models and CRISPR/Cas9 editing. Additionally, the research will evaluate the role of ULK1 in ICI-resistant melanoma models and correlate ULK1 and IRF1 expression with immunosuppressive and immunostimulatory gene signatures, immune cell infiltration, and patient response to ICIs.
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