Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The University of Louisville, through its Office of Research & Innovation, received a $403,686 Project Grant award from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) under the Cancer Treatment Research program (CFDA 93.395) to develop and evaluate a novel combination therapy approach for treating recurrent platinum-resistant ovarian cancer. The research project, which commenced on May 1, 2026, and concludes on April 30, 2028, addresses a critical clinical challenge: approximately 70% of ovarian cancer patients experience recurrence within 18-24 months due to platinum resistance, resulting in poor prognosis. The funded research examines an innovative therapeutic combination involving liposomal doxorubicin (Doxil) to overcome the limitations of standard carboplatin and paclitaxel treatments while mitigating dose-limiting cardiotoxicities and multidrug resistance mechanisms that restrict conventional doxorubicin application.

This Cancer Treatment Research grant supports fundamental and applied laboratory and clinical investigation into novel cancer treatment methodologies, consistent with the NCI's mission to develop improved methods to cure cancer patients and control disease progression. The project represents the type of translational research the program prioritizes—specifically, the development and clinical testing of enhanced therapeutic approaches that reduce treatment toxicity while improving efficacy for patients with limited treatment options.