# Cell Identity and Signaling (CIS)

> **NIH NIH P30** · PURDUE UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $28,182

## Abstract

Cell Identity and Signaling (CIS) Research Program
 Project Summary
 The key scientific goals of the Cell Identity and Signaling (CIS) Research Program are to advance discovery
of novel molecular mechanisms of cell identity and cell signaling, to apply this knowledge towards understanding
cancer pathogenesis, and to use this knowledge to develop novel, mechanism-based approaches to prevent or
interfere with cancer cell growth, aiming for cancer solutions. It is well-established that cancer cells hijack normal
regulation of cell growth, differentiation, and embryonic development, via genetic and epigenetic mechanisms.
The CIS Program aims to understand these fundamental mechanisms and shepherd them toward cancer
solutions.
 The CIS Program has 27 members, $5.5 million in cancer-focused, peer-reviewed extramural funding, with
38% of the total funding from the NCI. CIS research themes span a spectrum from basic discovery, using simple
model organisms and cellular and animal cancer models, to cancer solutions. CIS members are highly productive
with 202 cancer-related publications since July 2015, and highly interactive with a 70% increase in collaborative
publications. Importantly, 73% of all cancer-relevant CIS publications are collaborative. In the previous funding
cycle, the CIS Program, supported by competitive pilot grants from the Purdue Center for Cancer Research
(PCCR), successfully fostered highly collaborative, cancer-relevant studies linking CIS Program themes (intra-
programmatic) with other PCCR programs (inter-programmatic), and also with external partners (inter-
institutional).
 For the next funding period, the goal of the CIS Program is to advance the breadth and depth of our
understanding of cancer-relevant mechanisms and to maximize their transition to cancer solutions. The approach
towards this goal is to enable and foster collaborative and transdisciplinary studies by providing competitive
PCCR pilot grants, and access to state-of-the-art, PCCR-supported Shared Resources, and modern technology
in structural biology, drug discovery, cancer genomics, bioinformatics and computational biology. Three specific
aims are proposed. Aim 1: To further enhance discovery of basic and cancer-relevant mechanisms by
strengthening the integration of computational genomics and bioinformatics and increasing expertise and training
in computational biology. Aim 2: To enhance discovery of cancer-relevant mechanisms of signal transduction,
gene expression and epigenetics by supporting collaborative, transdisciplinary approaches and modern
technologies. Aim 3: To accelerate transition of newly discovered cancer-relevant mechanisms towards cancer
solutions, by developing essential mechanisms as therapy targets, and by employing transdisciplinary
approaches.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10024917
- **Project number:** 2P30CA023168-40
- **Recipient organization:** PURDUE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Ourania M. Andrisani
- **Activity code:** P30 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $28,182
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** — → —

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10024917

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10024917, Cell Identity and Signaling (CIS) (2P30CA023168-40). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10024917. Licensed CC0.

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