# Cancer Therapeutics

> **NIH NIH P30** · UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO HEALTH SCIS CTR · 2021 · $70,508

## Abstract

ABSTRACT: The Cancer Therapeutics (CT) Research Program drives the discovery, targeting, and translation
of innovative breakthroughs from UNMCCC science. CT is led by Eric R. Prossnitz, PhD and Sarah F. Adams,
MD with former leader, Larry A. Sklar, PhD serving as a distinguished senior scientist and advisor. Over the
last project period, rigorous program planning, evaluation and guidance from the UNMCCC External Advisory
Committee led to the strategic recruitment of talented new faculty, formalized processes to link program science
with catchment area needs, and the launch of a new Translational Sciences Initiative to support the development
of innovative investigator-initiated clinical trials based on research at UNMCCC. The CT translational pipeline
currently includes: i) unique small molecule discovery, ii) innovative drug delivery and cancer vaccine design, iii)
translation of new agents and drug combinations to clinical and community interventional trials at UNMCCC and
nationally, and iv) development of a clinical trials menu to meet the needs of patients in our catchment area,
supported by a renewed Minority/Underserved NCI NCORP grant. CT collaborates with the Cellular and
Molecular Oncology (CMO) research program to identify and prioritize molecular targets for therapeutic
interventions; with the Cancer Control and Population Science (CCPS) Program to implement new strategies for
cancer prevention; and with UNMCCC disease-focused Clinical Working Groups (CWG) and CPDM to develop
innovative clinical trials based on center science. Major paradigm-shifting and practice-changing
accomplishments illustrate the successful translation of UNMCCC discoveries to early phase and national NCTN
clinical trials, including first-in human studies of an agonist (G-1) for the G protein-coupled estrogen receptor
(GPER), and therapeutic trials of a novel combination regimen (PARP inhibitor/anti-CTLA4 antibody) for
recurrent ovarian cancer. Our Specific Aims are to: 1) employ innovative high-throughput screening and
informatics platforms to identify novel and repurposed anti-cancer agents; 2) develop novel methods for the
selective delivery of therapeutics and cancer vaccines to enhance treatment efficacy; and 3) translate our
discoveries to innovative trials that prioritize the needs of our catchment area. The 32 program members (27 full
and 5 associate) are from 6 UNM School of Medicine Departments, the UNM School of Engineering and College
of Pharmacy, New Mexico State University, and our consortium partner Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute.
During the prior funding period, CT members published 354 peer-reviewed articles (33% intra-, 24% inter-
programmatic, 13% high impact, 34% NCI collaborative) and developed and led 17 investigator-initiated trials.
As of 9/1/20, total CT funding was $7.5M, of which $5.9M was peer reviewed, and $3.6M from the NCI. CT has
contributed significantly to UNMCCC intellectual property through >85 issued patents and the c...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10271930
- **Project number:** 2P30CA118100-16
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO HEALTH SCIS CTR
- **Principal Investigator:** CHERYL LYNN WILLMAN
- **Activity code:** P30 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $70,508
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 2005-09-26 → 2026-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10271930

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10271930, Cancer Therapeutics (2P30CA118100-16). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10271930. Licensed CC0.

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