# Functional Proteomics by Reverse Phase Protein Array in Cancer

> **NIH NIH R50** · UNIVERSITY OF TX MD ANDERSON CAN CTR · 2021 · $145,293

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Dr. Yiling Lu is a Research Non-Tenure-Track-Professor at University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer
Center (MDACC) where she has served as a Core Manager of the CCSG Core of Functional
Proteomics by Reverse Phase protein Array (RPPA). The Core is located in the Department of Systems
Biology chaired by Dr. Gordon B Mills who acting as the Primary Unit Director in this award application.
The RPPA Core provides MDACC investigators, their collaborators and the cancer research community
with a powerful high throughput, quantitative, cost-effective technology for functional proteomics
studies. The Core has analyzed more than 125,742 samples from 547 cancer researches across from
the world over the last 8 years and supported for over 265 publications including high profile journals
and more then 10 million dollars of peer-reviewed grant funding from the NCI and other agencies. The
most significant evidence for the utility and robustness of the RPPA Core is that its inclusion in the
Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) analysis for each disease type and its participation in over 25 of
“pancan” “markers” papers in New England Journal of Medicine, Nature, Cell and Science and their
clones. In addition to the generation of high quality RPPA data, one of the key aspects of the Core is
the provision of functional proteomics data to the community. This is facilitated through the RPPA data
being integrated into the cBioportal and being made available for downloading, analysis and
visualization through The Cancer Proteome Atlas (TCPA portal). The RPPA contributions to progress in
cancer research impact this scientific field around the world. Cancer targeted therapy is designed to
capitalize on the vulnerabilities of tumor cells arising from the rewiring of functional networks as a
consequence of the genomic and epigenetic changes in tumor or their effects on the tumor
environment, impacting cellular protein functions. Thus, direct assessment of the targeted effects, both
predicted and unexpected, on the key proteins in signaling networks is required. As clarified in this
application, the facility will continue to provide RPPA services to MDACC investigators and the
worldwide research community. 1) The facility will continue to expand the validated antibody repertoire
to cover varies signaling pathways. 2) The facility will continue to improve the quality and accuracy of
RPPA data sets. 3) The facility will continue to work with a contractor to build a RPPA pipeline
automation program to decrease turnaround time. 4) The facility will develop the RPPA technology to
maximize its applications for clinical usage. 5) The facility will develop single cell analysis through
Nanostring technology and add it to functional proteomics service to meet the interests from
investigators. To ensure the utility of the RPPA resource, Dr. Lu has multiple active collaborations at
MDACC, as well as, nationally and internationally for her scientific activities and career development...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10251202
- **Project number:** 5R50CA221675-05
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF TX MD ANDERSON CAN CTR
- **Principal Investigator:** YILING LU
- **Activity code:** R50 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $145,293
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-09-19 → 2022-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10251202

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10251202, Functional Proteomics by Reverse Phase Protein Array in Cancer (5R50CA221675-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10251202. Licensed CC0.

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