# CORRELATIVE SCIENCE CORE

> **NIH NIH P50** · DANA-FARBER CANCER INST · 2021 · $20,549

## Abstract

The major goals of Core 3 are to provide the SPORE with the infrastructure and professional expertise needed 
to develop, validate, and implement molecular biomarker tests on patient samples and xenografted human 
leukemias. These tests will be used to characterize the response of myeloid neoplasms obtained from patients 
and preclinical models to targeted therapies being tested in each of the projects. The Core is led by Dr. Jon C. 
Aster, a senior leukemia investigator and practicing hematopathologist. Tests will be carried out in the Core will 
include assays that gauge NPM1 and DNMT3A mutational status (Project 1), SYK activation (Project 2), 
mutational status of genes encoding spliceasome components and SF3B1 inhibition (Project 3), and the 
expression of immune checkpoint proteins (Project 4). The Core will also perform serial NextGen Sequencing 
to determine the effect of targeted therapy on clonal dynamics, and develop new tests that assess the 
sensitivity of tumor cells to apoptosis (BH3 profiling/mitochondrial priming), or that predict and gauge the 
response of neoplastic cells to SYK inhibitors, Menin/MLL inhibitors, and other targeted therapeutics. 
The specific aims of the Core are: 
1) To use a clinically validated amplicon-based NextGen sequencing test to identify mutations, define 
clonal heterogeneity, and follow the clonal evolution of myeloid neoplasms during therapy 
2) To develop, validate, and implement tests for phospho-SYK, immune checkpoint proteins, lineage- 
specific host immune cell markers, and other protein biomarkers 
3) To develop, validate, and implement RNA profiling-based tests that identify signatures of effective 
targeting of leukemogenic signaling pathways with novel therapeutic agents, including spliceasome 
inhibitors, and Menin/MLL inhibitors 
4) To develop, validate, and implement a BH3 profiling/mitochondrial priming assay to predict the 
response of myeloid neoplasms to targeted therapeutics

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10220874
- **Project number:** 5P50CA206963-06
- **Recipient organization:** DANA-FARBER CANCER INST
- **Principal Investigator:** JON C. ASTER
- **Activity code:** P50 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $20,549
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-09-19 → 2023-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10220874

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10220874, CORRELATIVE SCIENCE CORE (5P50CA206963-06). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10220874. Licensed CC0.

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