Federal Grant Award Summary

The University of Utah received a $635,581 Project Grant award from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) under the Cancer Biology Research program (CFDA 93.396), effective June 1, 2026 through May 31, 2031. This five-year award supports the development of syngeneic, mutation-driven melanoma models in autoimmune-prone mice to advance understanding of immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapeutic efficacy and safety. The research addresses a critical gap in preclinical melanoma modeling by creating systems capable of simultaneously assessing both anti-tumor efficacy and immune-related adverse events (IRAEs)—a distinction absent in current immunodeficient or autoimmune-resistant mouse models. The deliverables include novel preclinical melanoma models that enable researchers to identify systemic interactions between tumor-directed immunity and host immune responses, ultimately supporting the development of improved ICI combination therapies that maximize therapeutic benefit while minimizing severe organ-system toxicities that currently limit patient treatment options.

The Cancer Biology Research program funds fundamental investigations into cancer mechanisms with the expectation of advancing prevention, detection, diagnosis, and treatment methodologies. This award specifically addresses the significant clinical obstacle of ICI treatment resistance and immunotoxicity prediction, where over 50 percent of patients experience treatment resistance and combination ICI therapies elevate IRAE incidence. The resulting mouse models are intended to serve as critical research tools for evaluating which patients face treatment resistance or adverse event risk and for developing therapeutic strategies that decouple anti-tumor immunity from potentially life-threatening side effects.