# Developmental Research Program

> **NIH NIH P50** · UNIVERSITY OF TX MD ANDERSON CAN CTR · 2020 · $154,071

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY (Developmental Research Program) 
The goal of the Developmental Research Program (DRP) of the MD Anderson Cancer Center Prostate 
Cancer SPORE is to fund promising studies in translational prostate cancer research. It is directed by Dr. 
Timothy C. Thompson and co-directed by Dr. Christopher J. Logothetis. As with our current SPORE, the DRP 
in this renewal will emphasize the support of translational research studies that can generate clinically testable 
hypotheses to help reduce the incidence and mortality of prostate cancer and/or improve the quality of life of 
prostate cancer patients. The Prostate Cancer SPORE Administrative Core has established a broad-based 
effort for solicitation of potential DRP projects. Letters of intent of no more than 2 pages for innovative 
translational research are invited from MD Anderson and outside institutions and SPORE and non-SPORE 
investigators, including participants in the SPORE Career Enhancement Program. These applications will be 
screened by the program Director and co-Director (who also serve as the SPORE Principal investigator and 
co-Principal Investigator) according to objective criteria. Investigators of selected applications will be asked to 
prepare a 5-page proposal modeled after a National Institutes of Health R01. As appropriate, the 
Administrative Core Directors and staff will assist investigators submitting proposals formulate translational 
specific aims and research plans, as many of these investigators will not have expertise in these areas. The 
process constitutes a major educational activity and will further stimulate the development of innovative 
translational research concepts. The proposals will be reviewed and prioritized by the Prostate Cancer 
SPORE Leaders (Principal Investigators, Project co-Leaders, Program Directors, and Core Directors). The 
projects will be funded for 1 year and will be renewable for an additional year on the basis of established 
criteria. Developmental Research projects will be evaluated ad hoc and annually by the program Director/co- 
Director, SPORE Leaders, Executive Committee, and combined Internal/External Advisory Boards. The DRP 
has established a mechanism for termination of projects that do not meet our criteria for continuation; 
however, it has not been necessary to utilize this mechanism in the DRP to date. 
Nine developmental projects were funded in the current Prostate Cancer SPORE. Investigators receiving DRP 
grants wrote 29 publications related to the research supported by their grants during 2009-2014 and were 
awarded 19 external peer-reviewed grants. Importantly, 2 DRP awardees are investigators for major projects 
in the Prostate Cancer SPORE renewal application: Drs. Sue-Hwa Lin (co-Leader, Project 2) and Padmanee 
Sharma (co-Leader, Project 1), highlighting the importance of the DRP in identifying projects and investigators 
with potential value for translational research.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10005148
- **Project number:** 5P50CA140388-10
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF TX MD ANDERSON CAN CTR
- **Principal Investigator:** Timothy Charles Thompson
- **Activity code:** P50 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $154,071
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2009-09-02 → 2023-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10005148

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10005148, Developmental Research Program (5P50CA140388-10). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10005148. Licensed CC0.

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