Federal Grant Award Summary

Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory received a $704,182 Project Grant award from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) under the Cancer Biology Research program (CFDA 93.396), effective June 16, 2026, with an ultimate completion date of May 31, 2031. The award funds fundamental research aimed at elucidating the non-mutational mechanisms underlying the benign-to-malignant transition in colorectal cancer (CRC). The research deliverables include the development and utilization of a novel mouse model that replicates the stepwise acquisition of mutations observed in human CRC progression, as well as spatial transcriptomic analyses to characterize how mutations such as KRAS G120 and TP53 loss interact with immune system components—specifically T cells—to drive tumor progression beyond the adenoma stage.

The grant supports investigation into how genetic mutations alone are insufficient to promote malignant transformation in colon polyps without additional inflammatory signals and immune system engagement. The research outputs will advance understanding of CRC development mechanisms with implications for improved prevention, detection, and treatment strategies. Preliminary findings indicate that tumors lacking T cells fail to progress beyond adenoma, suggesting that immune-mediated inflammatory responses are critical rate-limiting factors in malignant progression. This fundamental cancer biology research aligns with the NCI's strategic objective to provide critical information on the cause and nature of cancer development.