# Developmental Research Program

> **NIH NIH P50** · WISTAR INSTITUTE · 2022 · $88,354

## Abstract

Project Summary – Developmental Research Program
In the previous cycle, the Wistar/UPenn SPORE Development Research Program (DRP) was led by Dr. Robert
Vonderheide, who has since become the Cancer Center Director of the Abramson Cancer Center. The DRP
recruited a diverse array of investigators from many fields into melanoma and skin cancer research. The result
has been an outstanding number of high impact papers, extramural grants, and two projects graduating from the
DRP into full projects in this application. Building on this success, Dr. Meenhard Herlyn and Dr. Ravi Amaravadi,
the co-Directors of this SPORE grant will serve as DRP co-Directors in the new cycle. The overall goals of the
DRP in the new grant period remain to advance high quality research, foster new ideas, and move research
studies from pilot to project status. A second goal of the DRP is to create opportunities for the scientific
development of junior faculty or senior investigators who are interested in transitioning into skin cancer research.
Our approach is summarized in 2 specific aims and is enabled by a strong commitment for an exceptional level
of institutional support from The Wistar Institute and UPenn. The DRP will, in particular, welcome projects on
non-melanoma skin cancers and topics not covered by the funded full Projects. Aim 1 is to attract, select and
fund the most outstanding proposals with significant potential to benefit the Skin Cancer SPORE and
translational skin cancer research. Specific research projects are summarized that represent all cancers of the
skin. Aim 2 is to support and integrate the selected pilot projects into the SPORE program with established
processes to review and monitor progress. Women and underrepresented minorities will be strongly encouraged
to participate. The DRP has a transparent peer-reviewed selection process that incorporates defined criteria for
funding decisions. We require that DRP awardees be active in SPORE functions, use the SPORE Core resource,
and provide formal written progress reports. Within the context of the DRP, we have established high standards
and expectations of the investigators and have established a formal process to review and monitor progress of
funded pilot projects. The Program measures success by publications, extramural funding, stimulating new aims
in existing SPORE Projects, and elevation to full projects for the future.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10480863
- **Project number:** 5P50CA261608-02
- **Recipient organization:** WISTAR INSTITUTE
- **Principal Investigator:** Meenhard F Herlyn
- **Activity code:** P50 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $88,354
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2021-09-03 → 2026-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10480863

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10480863, Developmental Research Program (5P50CA261608-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10480863. Licensed CC0.

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