Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) awarded The Ohio State University a Project Grant totaling $511,944 on July 16, 2026, under the Cancer Treatment Research program (CFDA 93.395) to support research on dual targeting of oncogenic signaling and immune suppression in high-risk T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL). The research will deliver discovery and development activities focused on identifying novel druggable molecular markers and developing combined targeted therapies for T-ALL, a particularly aggressive pediatric and adult malignancy with poor prognosis. Specifically, the project will investigate the therapeutic potential of dual targeting the ATAD2 signaling pathway and the CK2/IKAROS axis, combined with CD70-targeted immunotherapy approaches to reprogram the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment and restore antitumor immunity in T-ALL patient models.

The grant supports both fundamental laboratory research and translational studies utilizing in vitro and in vivo models, as well as single-cell RNA sequencing analysis of patient samples, through the project's completion date of June 30, 2031. The funded activities align with the NCI's Cancer Treatment Research program objectives to develop improved methods of cancer treatment through support of discovery, development, and clinical testing of biological therapies including molecularly targeted approaches, with the ultimate goal of advancing treatment options for adult and pediatric T-ALL patients facing limited effective therapeutic alternatives.