# Developing Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Precision Oncology Models

> **NIH NIH R50** · WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $157,733

## Abstract

Abstract
This proposal is designed to support a Research Specialist who is spearheading numerous initiatives using
human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) to study nervous system cancer biology. This specialist has
extensive research experience with RASopathy cancer predisposition syndromes, beginning with her doctoral
studies focused on generating Cardio-Facial-Cutaneous and Costello Syndrome preclinical zebrafish models,
and over the past six years as a postdoctoral fellow and now Staff Scientist, developing translational research
tools for Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1). As such, the Research Specialist was responsible for the
development of The Washington University NF Center iPSC Repository, the first and largest collection of NF1
patient-derived and CRISPR/Cas9-engineered hiPSCs. The Research Specialist’s expertise in generating and
deploying NF1-hiPSCs has galvanized the development, funding and active participation in multiple projects
within the Program Director’s laboratory, as well as multi-institutional programs involving collaborators
modeling low-grade PNS tumors, malignant cancer progression, microglia contributions to nervous system
tumor, and neuronal dysfunction in cancer. Moreover, the Research Specialist has pioneered the development
of NF1 patient hiPSC lines to study the differential impact of patient-derived NF1 gene mutations on brain
dysfunction, and specifically on nervous system RAS, cAMP and dopamine signaling, as well as to model
nervous system cancer pathogenesis in genetically-engineered mouse models harboring NF1 patient Nf1 gene
mutations. Collectively, the applicant has leveraged her considerable cross-species research experience to
develop expertise in using hiPSCs to model human RAS-related cancer. As such, her hiPSC studies have
revealed important new insights relevant to the pathogenesis of NF1-mutant nervous system tumors, which
have helped to guide Dr. Gutmann’s laboratory studies in NF1 precision oncology. Finally, her commitment to
the field, continued leadership in this area, and assistance in guiding iPSC-based projects, both at Washington
University and at multiple academic institutions worldwide, are highly likely to provide clinically-actionable
opportunities relevant to personalized risk assessment and medical management of people with RAS-related
oncologic disease.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10005990
- **Project number:** 5R50CA233164-03
- **Recipient organization:** WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Corina Anastasaki
- **Activity code:** R50 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $157,733
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-09-17 → 2023-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10005990

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10005990, Developing Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Precision Oncology Models (5R50CA233164-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10005990. Licensed CC0.

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