Developmental Research Program (DRP) Project Summary/Abstract As mandated by NCI SPORE Guidelines, the University of Texas Special Program of Research Excellence (SPORE) has a Developmental Research Program (DRP). The SPORE DRP is funded by a combination of NCI SPORE grant support ($50,000 direct costs), and institutional support from UTSW and UTMDACC ($150,000 direct costs) for a total budget of $200,000. With average awards of $25,000, this funding permits ~8 DRP Awards per year. The Specific Aims of the DRP are: 1. Provide Funding for Developmental Research Projects; 2. Use expertise of members of the SPORE External and Internal Scientific Advisory Boards, and Senior Executive Committee to identify high-impact projects with potential lung cancer clinical translational utility; 3. Build on the existing well-structured SPORE mentorship platform for Development Research Projects; 4. Build on the existing framework for direct communication between basic and clinical scientists, within and outside UTSW and UTMADCC, across disciplines, and training and guidance of a new generation of translational lung cancer researchers; 5. Facilitate development and transition of these successful projects into competitive applications for extramural peer-reviewed funding; 6. Build on the existing well-structured SPORE DRP to ensure that scientific advances are translated into the clinic to benefit patients with lung cancer. The overall DRP goal(s) is to fund UTSW, MDACC personnel, and extra-institutional candidates with MD or PhD degrees at all academic levels who want to pursue a career in lung cancer research and who have prepared an application with high potential for significant impact on lung cancer pathogenesis, diagnosis, prevention, prognosis, or therapy. As part of this effort, awardees will have access to Lung Cancer SPORE Core resources (such as preclinical models, Molecular Pathology, Data Sciences), and access to mentorship by experienced lung cancer investigators and patient advocates. DRP Awardees will bring new and innovative ideas and approaches to lung cancer translational research, and be trained in identifying major lung cancer problems to attack, as well as new approaches, concepts, technologies, data gathering and analyses for understanding lung cancer biology, pathogenesis, diagnosis and therapy. The DRP is run by the SPORE MPIs from UTSW and MDACC (Minna, Gerber, Roth, Heymach). Applications are scored by the SPORE External Advisory Board (EAB) based on the applicant’s ability, significance of the project, innovation, approach, research Environment, and potential of project. Special efforts are made to recruit women and minority applicants. Over the 20 year history of this SPORE, the DRP has been highly successful, with a large number of awards leading to important publications, providing preliminary data for other grants, assisting with faculty promotions, and progression of DRP recipients to major roles in SPORE Projects and Cores.