Federal Grant Award Summary

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) awarded the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) a Project Grant totaling $518,451 under the Cancer Detection and Diagnosis Research Program (CFDA 93.394) to develop and validate innovative methodologies for personalizing rectal cancer radiotherapy treatment selection. Initiated on June 2, 2026, with a completion date of May 31, 2031, the research leverages multimodal signatures to improve treatment decision-making for rectal cancer patients. This work directly addresses a significant public health need, as rectal cancer comprises approximately one-third of all colorectal cancer cases diagnosed in the United States, representing the third most common cancer diagnosis and the second leading cause of cancer-related death nationally.

The award supports translational research designed to advance diagnostic and prognostic capabilities for rectal cancer management through the analysis of multiple data modalities to predict patient-specific responses to radiotherapy. As a major academic research institution, UCLA will conduct this research at its Los Angeles campus facility, contributing specialized scientific expertise and infrastructure to improve cancer identification, risk stratification, and treatment selection—core objectives of the NCI's Cancer Detection and Diagnosis Research Program.