- Established by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) in 1992, the SPORE program seeks to promote collaborative, interdisciplinary, translational cancer research
- Cornerstone of NCI Translational Research Program
- Recognizes programs of excellence with funding to advance scientific discoveries into treatments
- Across over 60 awards, one of only two that focus on kidney cancer, the other at Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center.
UT Southwestern Kidney Cancer SPORE
2016
2022
James Brugarolas, M.D., Ph.D., and Payal Kapur, M.D.
$11.5 million
PROJECT 1
Building on the research success that culminated in the development and eventual FDA approval of a first-in-class HIF-2a inhibitor (Belzutifan) during the first cycle of SPORE funding, UT Southwestern researchers continue to leverage their expertise of HIF-2a to combat resistance mutations they identified and to develop novel radiology tests to monitor HIF-2a in patients.
Lead Investigators
- James Brugarolas, M.D., Ph.D.
(Project Co-Leader) - Xiankai Sun, Ph.D.
(Project Co-Leader)
PROJECT 2
Continuing the pioneering research of the In Vivo Metabolism Lab funded by the previous SPORE cycle, Project 2 aims to develop innovative treatments by focusing on glutamine dependency and potential druggable interventions to bypass the limited efficacy of glutaminase inhibitors in renal cell carcinoma.
Lead Investigators
- Ralph J. DeBerardinis, M.D., Ph.D.
(Project Co-Leader) - Kevin Courtney, M.D., Ph.D.
(Project Co-Leader)
PROJECT 3
While most immunotherapy approaches to kidney cancer focus on the adaptive immune response, Project 3 leverages the previous Breakthrough Prize research by Zhijian Chen to activate the innate immune system utilizing a novel drug, IMSA101. Combined with radiation therapy and an immune checkpoint inhibitor, researchers aim to simultaneously activate both ‘arms’ of the immune system to maximize anti-tumor immune response.
Lead Investigators
- Raquibul Hannan, M.D., Ph.D.
(Project Co-Leader) - Hans Hammers, M.D., Ph.D.
(Project Co-Leader) - Zhijian (James) Chen, Ph.D.
(Project Co-Leader)
Developmental Research Program
Seed funding supporting kidney cancer projects with transformative potential.
Career Enhancement Program
Drawing new investigators to kidney cancer research.
PROJECT 2
Building upon discoveries of the In Vivo Metabolism Lab established in the previous SPORE cycle, Project 2 aims to develop innovative treatments exploiting glutamine addiction in renal cancer that bypass the limited efficacy of glutaminase inhibitors.
Lead Investigators
- Ralph J. DeBerardinis, M.D., Ph.D.
(Project Co-Leader) - Kevin Courtney, M.D., Ph.D.
(Project Co-Leader)
PROJECT 3
While most immunotherapy approaches to kidney cancer focus on inducing and amplifying an adaptive immune response, Project 3 leverages the previous Breakthrough Prize Discovery by KCP researcher Zhijian Chen, to activate the innate immune system against renal cell carcinoma. By utilizing a novel immunotherapy they developed (IMSA101), radiation therapy, and an immune checkpoint inhibitor, researchers aim to activate both ‘arms’ of the immune system to develop a new treatment for metastatic kidney cancer patients.
Lead Investigators
- Raquibul Hannan, M.D., Ph.D.
(Project Co-Leader) - Hans Hammers, M.D., Ph.D.
(Project Co-Leader) - Zhijian (James) Chen, Ph.D.
(Project Co-Leader)
