Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) awarded the Regents of the University of Michigan a $512,292 Project Grant on June 2, 2026, under the Cancer Treatment Research program (CFDA 93.395) to support research addressing high-grade endometrial carcinoma. The project, which extends through May 31, 2031, focuses on interrogating protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) to advance understanding and treatment of aggressive endometrial cancers. The research deliverables include the development and characterization of novel conditional transgenic mouse models carrying PPP2R1A mutations (P179R and R183W variants) crossed with TP53-knockout mice to recapitulate high-grade endometrial carcinoma pathogenesis with full penetrance, enabling preclinical evaluation of disease mechanisms and therapeutic interventions.

The funded research addresses a critical public health need, as endometrial cancer represents the deadliest gynecological malignancy in the United States with rising mortality rates. The project aims to establish preclinical platforms and develop first-in-class therapeutic candidates targeting PP2A pathway dysregulation, which occurs in 30-40% of high-grade endometrial carcinomas. Conducted at the University of Michigan's Ann Arbor campus, this Cancer Treatment Research initiative supports the discovery and development of improved cancer treatment methods through fundamental laboratory research and the development of molecularly targeted therapeutic approaches.