Federal Grant Award Summary

Albert Einstein College of Medicine received a $680,121 Project Grant award from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) under the Cancer Biology Research program (CFDA 93.396), effective April 1, 2026 through March 31, 2031. This award supports fundamental research to understand the immunoevasion mechanisms employed by precancerous stem cells in basal-like breast cancer (BLBC), with the goal of developing immunoprevention strategies to intercept progression to aggressive malignancy. The research focuses on characterizing how embryonic multipotent stem-like cells (pre-cancer stem cells or pre-CSCs) evade immune surveillance through the SOX9-B7X signaling pathway and the upregulation of cancer testis antigens, with particular emphasis on BLBC subtypes that disproportionately affect younger women and women of African ancestry, as well as BRCA1 mutation carriers.

The project deliverables include mechanistic investigations of immune checkpoint regulation in pre-CSCs, experimental validation of the SOX9-B7X pathway's role in T cell infiltration inhibition, and translational findings applicable to broader breast cancer subtypes through targeted interventions. Research will be conducted at Albert Einstein College of Medicine's facilities in the Bronx, New York, and is expected to yield fundamental insights into cancer immunology and tumor microenvironment dynamics that advance NCI's strategic priorities in cancer prevention and early intervention approaches.