Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The National Cancer Institute awarded Rutgers The State University of New Jersey a $672,960 Project Grant effective June 1, 2026, through May 31, 2031, under the Cancer Biology Research program (CFDA 93.396). This research project aims to advance understanding of Adult T-Cell Leukemia/Lymphoma (ATLL), an aggressive T-cell malignancy caused by Human T-Cell Lymphotropic Virus Type-1 (HTLV-1) infection, with particular focus on North American ATLL patients who exhibit chemo-refractory disease and significantly reduced overall survival rates of 6.9 months. The funded research will investigate the implications of E1A Binding Protein (EP300) deficiency in ATLL pathogenesis, as somatic loss-of-function mutations in EP300 have been identified in 20% of North American ATLL cases.

The research deliverables will include mechanistic investigations into how reduced EP300 activity contributes to severe dysregulations in DNA replication dynamics, defective replication fork protection, and cytosolic DNA accumulation that induces cellular toxicity. The project will utilize a unique collection of EP300-mutant ATLL cells and innovative EP300-specific protein degradation technology (PROTAC degraders) to identify new therapeutic targets and mechanisms that could improve overall survival outcomes for this patient population with currently limited effective treatment options. The research will be conducted at the awardee's Newark, New Jersey location.