# (1/2) Ponce Health Sciences University-Moffitt Cancer Center Partnership

> **NIH NIH U54** · PONCE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE · 2021 · $1,626,791

## Abstract

The Ponce Health Sciences University (PHSU) and the Moffitt Cancer Center (MCC) have forged a strong
working relationship founded on seamless communication with mutual support and benefits. With Partnership
resources and significant commitment from both institutions, we have established joint programs enhancing
basic and clinical research, enriching cancer outreach, expanding cancer education, and creating a unique
Hispanic/Latino (H/L) Biobank, leading to the development of a robust network and infrastructure necessary for
a sustained long-term collaboration to improve cancer outcomes in the H/L population. The U54 Partnership's
immediate impact includes the identification of new mutations in breast and lung cancer in H/L patients,
recruitment of new faculty essential for sustainability and growth, and 84 community outreach educational
activities for H/Ls in Florida (FL) and Puerto Rico (PR). The development of the Puerto Rico Biobank (PRBB)
and the training of clinical researchers, with 25 clinical intervention trials activated in Ponce, demonstrate the
broad impact realized through the Partnership. Furthermore the Partnership had a critical role in the ACGME
re-accreditation of the Hematology/Oncology Fellowship in PR, in the establishment of two stem cell transplant
programs in PR by fellows trained in the MCC Bone Marrow Transplant unit, and in the establishment of an
ACGME-accredited surgical residency in Ponce with surgical oncology rotations at MCC. The short-term
metrics of the first 4 years of the U54 Partnership grant include 48 student participants, 35 peer-reviewed
manuscripts published, and 29 grants funded out of a total of 64 submitted.
 Our vision for the U54 PACHE renewal is to further grow and engage faculty and students in cancer
precision medicine research that directly impacts the H/L populations in FL and PR. The Partnership has the
requisite components to fully execute precision medicine in an underserved population—a biobank,
quantitative science core (QSC) to analyze data, culturally sensitive outreach materials, expertise in the latest
technologies, and a robust research portfolio. The four specific aims for the U54 Partnership renewal are the
following. Aim 1: To increase the number of researchers at PHSU focused on basic/translational research in
cancer and to augment the number of researchers in cancer health disparities at MCC. This is facilitated with
joint projects in ovarian and breast cancer. Aim 2: To further develop outreach programs and research efforts
in the H/L communities at both PHSU and MCC. An epidemiological project will examine the impact of receipt
of MC1R genotypes on personal sun protection behaviors. Aim 3: To increase support for basic, translational
and clinical research in the H/L population by establishing the QSC and further developing the PRBB. The
MCC Total Cancer Care protocol will be developed in Ponce hospitals and leveraged by the PRBB to facilitate
tissue collection. Aim 4: To provide...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10249952
- **Project number:** 5U54CA163071-10
- **Recipient organization:** PONCE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
- **Principal Investigator:** Julie Dutil
- **Activity code:** U54 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $1,626,791
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2012-09-25 → 2023-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10249952

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10249952, (1/2) Ponce Health Sciences University-Moffitt Cancer Center Partnership (5U54CA163071-10). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10249952. Licensed CC0.

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