# Nuclear Receptor, Transcription and Chromatin Biology Program

> **NIH NIH P30** · BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE · 2021 · $40,090

## Abstract

NUCLEAR RECEPTOR, TRANSCRIPTION, AND CHROMATIN BIOLOGY (NRTBC) PROGRAM
PROJECT SUMMARY
The overall objective of the NRTCB program is to conduct impactful basic research and to promote rapid
translation of discoveries linked to NR-dependent and epigenetic mechanisms of transcriptional regulation of
carcinogenesis to the clinic to accelerate development of new preventative and therapeutic interventions. The
program has 2 main themes: (1) Identification of NRs that contribute to cancer pathogenesis and progression,
disclosure of their mechanisms of action, and evaluation of their potential as novel therapeutic targets, and (2)
Biology and function of chromatin regulators that mediate epigenetic regulation of transcription in cancer. The
program has 20 actively funded Research Members, 2 Clinical, 2 Adjunct, and one Shared Member with
extensive research experience related to the 2 themes and drawn from several departments including Medicine,
Molecular and Cellular Biology, Molecular and Human Genetics, and Pharmacology. The program is led by Dr.
Suzanne Fuqua, a translational research expert in estrogen receptor action in breast cancer, together with 2 Co-
Leaders, Dr. Cheryl Walker, an internationally recognized expert on environmental, genetic, and epigenetic factor
interactions in cancer and Dr. Nicholas Mitsiades, a clinical researcher with extensive experience in oncology
clinical trial design and execution in the area of NRs and prostate cancer. Members of the Program have $15.9
million (direct costs) in cancer-related research funding, of which $9.9 million is peer-reviewed and $6 million is
non peer-reviewed. Peer-reviewed funding includes nearly $6.4 million in NIH support, of which $5.3 million is
from the NCI. NRTCB Program members have a strong record of programmatic interactions as evidenced by 16
externally funded programmatic grants. Members continue to make outstanding research progress as evidenced
by over 321 cancer-related publications over the past 5 years of which 25% and 70% involve intra- and inter-
programmatic collaborations and 52% are inter-institutional. Major scientific accomplishments include novel
discoveries of (1) a role of androgen receptors in breast cancer resistance to endocrine therapies, (2) a role for
the NR, CAR in liver cancer, (3) a novel miRNA-regulated signaling axis required for suppression of COUP-TFII
driven prostate cancer metastasis, (4) glucocorticoid receptors as novel therapeutic targets for RUNX1-ETO
positive acute myeloid leukemia, (5) a role for epigenetic regulators in control of cytoskeletal dynamics, (6) a role
for Warburg-associated glycolytic reprogramming in epigenetic activation of SRC-3 driven oncogenic
transcriptional programs, and (7) a role for prostate cancer associated mutations in SPOP in regulation of
androgen receptor turnover. Translational advances include: (1) Preclinical validation of the NR4A activator,
dihydroergotamine, as a novel therapeutic drug for AML, (2) Four new inv...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10239128
- **Project number:** 5P30CA125123-15
- **Recipient organization:** BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE
- **Principal Investigator:** ORLA M. CONNEELY
- **Activity code:** P30 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $40,090
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2007-07-01 → 2025-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10239128

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10239128, Nuclear Receptor, Transcription and Chromatin Biology Program (5P30CA125123-15). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10239128. Licensed CC0.

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