# Tumor Biology and Microenvironment

> **NIH NIH P30** · WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY · 2021 · $31,051

## Abstract

TUMOR BIOLOGY AND MICROENVIRONMENT (TBM) – ABSTRACT
The Tumor Biology and Microenvironment (TBM) Program is a translational science program that aims to
discover the cellular and molecular determinants that drive the initiation and progression of cancers through
interactions with their microenvironments and develop and test innovative diagnostic and treatment strategies.
This highly integrated Program includes 37 members from 13 departments and 4 schools at Wayne State
University. TBM Program members, who conduct basic, preclinical, and clinical research, receive $4,468,183
in peer reviewed, cancer-related grant support, of which $1,943,419 is from the NCI. The TBM Program is
organized along three major themes. The goal of the first theme is to explore biological processes that mediate
the phenotypical plasticity, proliferation, and survival of tumor cells. Translational research is conducted to
evaluate the potential clinical application of these molecular determinants as tumor markers and/or therapeutic
targets. The second theme investigates mechanisms that enable tumor cells to overcome external barriers during
invasion and metastasis. Our investigators assess the importance of factors that control extracellular proteolysis
and signaling mechanisms that are being used by tumor cells to adapt to and subvert the microenvironment at
primary and metastatic sites. The objective of the third theme is to develop new strategies to engage the immune
system as powerful defenses against cancer. Research activities include the development of immune modulators
and novel vehicles to optimally deliver immunotherapeutics, as well as the use of state-of-the art imaging
modalities for monitoring the success to tumor immunotherapy. The TBM Program is led by Dr. Kay-Uwe
Wagner as Program Leader and Dr. Asfar Azmi as Program Co-Leader. The Leader and Co-Leader are new
since the last competitive renewal. All members of the TBM Program actively collaborate with members of the
MI, MT, and PSDR Programs at KCI. Of the 484 manuscripts published between December 2015 and November
2019, 41% and 44% were intra- and inter-programmatic, respectively, and 61% were multi-institutional
collaborations.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10088976
- **Project number:** 2P30CA022453-39
- **Recipient organization:** WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Kay-Uwe Wagner
- **Activity code:** P30 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $31,051
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 1997-08-08 → 2025-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10088976

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10088976, Tumor Biology and Microenvironment (2P30CA022453-39). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10088976. Licensed CC0.

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