Federal Grant Award Summary

Vanderbilt University Medical Center received a $603,714 Project Grant from the National Cancer Institute under the Cancer Detection and Diagnosis Research Program (CFDA 93.394) awarded June 18, 2026, with a completion date of May 31, 2031. The grant supports the development of an enhanced visualization and navigational system designed to improve surgical outcomes in endoscopic treatment of upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC). The primary deliverable is a technological solution that addresses the critical limitations of current endoscopic procedures, which rely on surgeons manually reconstructing three-dimensional anatomical maps from two-dimensional preoperative imaging—a process that is imprecise, highly dependent on surgeon experience, and frequently results in incomplete tumor treatment necessitating more invasive kidney removal procedures.

The project directly addresses a significant clinical gap by creating tools to enhance surgical visibility and navigation during minimally invasive tumor ablation procedures. By improving the surgeon's ability to visualize tumor margins, assess pathological grade, and accurately localize tumors within the kidney's branched anatomy, the proposed system aims to make kidney-sparing endoscopic treatment more accessible and reliable across surgeons of varying experience levels. This innovation is expected to reduce the need for nephroureterectomy procedures, thereby preserving renal function and improving patient quality of life while maintaining oncologic effectiveness. The research integrates advanced imaging and navigation technologies to translate a difficult, underutilized surgical technique into a more standardized and reproducible clinical practice.