Federal Grant Award Summary

The University of Hawaii at Manoa received a $663,930 Project Grant from the National Cancer Institute under the Cancer Biology Research program (CFDA 93.396), effective August 1, 2026 through July 31, 2031. The award supports research into novel biomarkers for predicting and improving immunotherapy response in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The project will deliver two primary products: (1) development and clinical validation of a laboratory test based on an 11-gene expression signature that predicts immunotherapy treatment success with 84–91% accuracy—substantially outperforming existing biomarkers such as PD-L1 (Programmed Death Ligand 1) and tumor mutation burden—using tissue samples from 200 NSCLC patients; and (2) mechanistic research proving that the gene phosphomevalonate kinase (PMVK) regulates PD-L1 expression through the JAK-STAT cell signaling pathway, with potential therapeutic implications for enhancing anti-tumor immune responses when combined with PD-L1-blocking immunotherapy drugs.

The Cancer Biology Research program, which has obligated $20.4 billion across 17,748 awards since 1975, supports fundamental research into cancer cell biology, cancer immunology, and tumor biology mechanisms. This award addresses a critical clinical need in NSCLC treatment, where current immunotherapy response rates remain disappointingly low at 14–45% despite advances in immune-boosting therapeutics. The research outcomes are intended to yield improved patient stratification tools and identify metabolic mechanisms by which tumors evade immune detection, potentially enabling better treatment selection and the development of combination therapeutic strategies.