The University of Utah Office of Sponsored Projects Division was awarded a $472,921 federal Project Grant under the National Cancer Institute's Cancer Biology Research program (CFDA 93.396) on February 1, 2025. The grant supports research to investigate the role of the CR1 signaling pathway in mediating cellular plasticity and heterogeneity in breast cancer progression and metastasis. The project aims to elucidate the molecular mechanisms by which CR1 regulates cancer cell state changes in response to microenvironmental and therapeutic stresses, and to identify targetable molecular mediators of this reprogramming process. The research leverages mouse tumor models, bioengineered culture systems, and single-cell RNA sequencing to provide high-resolution insights into CR1-dependent cell state dynamics during different stages of breast cancer metastasis. The findings are expected to advance the understanding of cancer cell plasticity and heterogeneity, and lay the groundwork for clinical studies of CR1-blocking agents as potential therapeutic interventions.
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