# Developmental Research Program

> **NIH NIH U54** · INDIANA UNIVERSITY INDIANAPOLIS · 2021 · $90,209

## Abstract

ABSTRACT – DEVELOPMENTAL REARCH PROGRAM
The DHART SPORE Developmental Research Program (DRP) will support innovative pilot projects to advance
the diagnosis and treatment of early stage tumors and advanced cancers characterized by germline and
somatic NF1 mutations. The DRP will accomplish this goal by supporting rigorous translational research in the
areas of population science, therapeutics, and mechanisms of disease. We expect that many established
investigators will utilize DRP support to launch new research endeavors and to generate preliminary data in
NF1 and RASopathy-associated cancers leading to successful grant applications to the NIH, the Department
of Defense NF Research Program, and other funding agencies. The ultimate goal of the DRP is to advance
high level research activities related to NF1-associated tumors, which we will achieve by recruiting and
supporting established investigators developing a new research theme in the field of NF1-related cancers. The
translational studies supported by the DRP also have the potential to replace SPORE projects that have been
completed or are not progressing satisfactorily toward achieving their objectives. This SPORE also includes a
Career Enhancement Program (CEP) for young investigators, which is described in a separate section of this
application. The institutions participating in the DHART SPORE renewal have committed a total of $1.65
million to support the Developmental Programs of the DHART SPORE (inclusive of the DRP and CEP).
Investigators from any DHART SPORE center can apply for DRP funds. In addition, we actively solicit
applications from non-SPORE investigators and institutions. The specific aims of the DRP are: (1) to fund
promising projects in order to generate preliminary data for grant applications to the NIH or other federal
funding agencies. The DRP emphasizes supporting the recruitment of investigators from historically
disenfranchised racial, ethnic, sexual orientation and disability groups that are under-represented in health
sciences, hereafter termed underrepresented minority (URM) investigators ; (2) to support the development of
new techniques and resources that can be applied to advance translational research to improve the treatment
of NF1-associated tumors; (3) to expand the scope of research in NF1, including funding high risk/high reward
projects; and, (4) to recruit talented investigators into NF1 research as it relates to cancer, and to promote new
collaborations in this field across a range of investigators and disciplines. The DRP will provide evaluation,
funding, and oversight for pilot projects. Each project will receive a minimum of $50,000 with a maximum of
$75,000 per year, with the potential for a single renewal. Applications for DRP support (including requests for a
second year of funding) will be evaluated through a competitive process with review by a Developmental
Programs Steering Committee (DPSC) comprised of senior scientists participating in this...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10270584
- **Project number:** 2U54CA196519-06A1
- **Recipient organization:** INDIANA UNIVERSITY INDIANAPOLIS
- **Principal Investigator:** KEVIN M. SHANNON
- **Activity code:** U54 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $90,209
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 2015-09-01 → 2026-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10270584

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10270584, Developmental Research Program (2U54CA196519-06A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10270584. Licensed CC0.

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