Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) awarded the Regents of the University of Michigan $646,949 under the Cancer Biology Research program (CFDA 93.396) on July 9, 2026, for research into ADAR1 (Adenosine Deaminase Acting on RNA 1) post-translational modifications in cancer immunity and immunotherapy. The five-year project, scheduled for completion by June 30, 2031, will investigate how ADAR1—an RNA editing enzyme that converts adenosine to inosine in double-stranded RNA—regulates immune responses within the tumor microenvironment and influences the efficacy of immune checkpoint blockade therapy. The research will employ both human and mouse cancer models to elucidate molecular mechanisms underlying tumor immunity and to provide proof-of-principle that pharmacological targeting of ADAR1's enzymatic activity can enhance anti-tumor immunity.

The project's deliverables include mechanistic findings on tumor metabolism's regulation of Type-I interferon in tumor immunity (Aim 1) and evidence that ADAR1 post-translational modifications represent a viable therapeutic target to boost immune responses and improve immunotherapy outcomes (Aim 2). The research team will conduct in vivo studies using tumor-bearing mouse models to validate therapeutic targets within the intact tumor microenvironment, as complex innate and adaptive immune interactions cannot be adequately modeled through cell culture or non-animal alternatives. Work will be performed at the University of Michigan's Ann Arbor, Michigan campus.