# Hematologic Malignancies Program

> **NIH NIH P30** · UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO DENVER · 2021 · $71,335

## Abstract

HEMATOLOGIC MALIGNANCIES PROGRAM (Project-265)
ABSTRACT
Overview and Goals: Hematologic malignancies represent some of the most aggressive forms of cancer, and
in many cases, current therapeutic options are very limited. Thus, the goal of the new Hematologic Malignancies
(HEME) Program, which was formally established in early 2015, is to define key biological features of leukemia
and related blood cancers and translate these into improved therapeutics. HEME was formed in 2015 based on
the vision of the UCCC leadership with concurrence of our EAB and leverages the enormous growth in the
hematologic malignancies community at AMC over the last 5 years. The major scientific strengths in HEME focus
on the epigenetic regulation of cellular processes, key molecular events occurring as normal cells transition to
malignant states, metabolic processes that define tumor-specific properties, and characterizing malignant stem
cells. Research Highlight: Recently members discovered that germline mutations in ETV6 are associated with
thrombocytopenia, red cell macrocytosis and predisposition to lymphoblastic leukemia opening up novel avenues
for prevention and assessment of cancer predisposition risk in such patients (Nat Genet, 20151). Program
Activities: To accomplish this goal, HEME co-leaders employ resources provided by the CCSG to orchestrate intra-
and inter-programmatic collaborations through organization of annual retreats and periodic technology forums, and
routine chaperoning of transdisciplinary collaborations. Program members utilize Shared Resources (SR) for
preclinical mouse models and employ patient-derived specimens and tumor models as a means to evaluate
candidate therapies. In addition, work across the consortium with CSU/FACC on spontaneous disease models
in companion animals complements an extensive adult and pediatric human clinical trials portfolio at that seeks
to advance multiple targeted therapies across all ages. Members: The HEME program is comprised of 24 Full
and 11 Associate members with 65 grants and $1.4M NCI and $1.3M other peer-reviewed cancer research grant
funding in 2015. The group of multidisciplinary investigators includes the entire spectrum of pediatric and adult
blood cancer research groups across the UCCC consortium. 86% of members (30) are located in 10 clinical and
basic science departments at UCD and CSU; and the remainder are at non-consortium institutions. From
program inception (7/2014) the group produced 77 cancer-focused publications, of which 32% were inter- and
13% intra-programmatic. Future Directions: We expect the HEME program to expand substantially. Ongoing
recruitment efforts include clinical research leadership roles in immunotherapy, pediatric BMT, myeloma, and
expertise in adolescent young adult (AYA) populations. In addition, growth in immunology, pharmacology and
molecular biology is expected to further strengthen our basic science efforts. For this dynamic program, we will
focus on supporting inte...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10133562
- **Project number:** 5P30CA046934-33
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO DENVER
- **Principal Investigator:** Dan Theodorescu
- **Activity code:** P30 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $71,335
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1997-04-04 → 2022-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10133562

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10133562, Hematologic Malignancies Program (5P30CA046934-33). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10133562. Licensed CC0.

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