# Head and Neck Cancer SPORE at the University of Wisconsin

> **NIH NIH P50** · UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON · 2022 · $2,028,647

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
The Wisconsin Head and Neck SPORE is designed to promote translational laboratory and clinical research to
improve overall outcome for patients with Head and Neck Cancer (HNC). This highly collaborative research links
basic scientists with HNC clinicians to advance novel treatment strategies for this complex cancer population.
These patients bear a disproportionate burden from their cancers based on the critical anatomic location of the
disease for which treatment can compromise speech, swallow, and breathing function, in addition to creating
significant alterations in physical appearance and capacity for social interaction. Efforts to improve cure rates
must be carefully balanced with efforts to reduce treatment toxicity to enable enhanced overall quality of life for
patients. The broad objectives of this SPORE are to: 1) Promote multidisciplinary translational research in HNC,
2) Improve overall survival and quality of life for patients with HNC, 3) Incorporate new predictive models to test
novel HNC treatment strategies, 4) Improve understanding of how immune modulation can augment
conventional and experimental treatment responses in HNC, 5) Translate promising new molecules developed
at the University of Wisconsin and from Industry through preclinical testing and into HNC clinical trials. The
Wisconsin HN SPORE has designed three primary research projects. Project 1 will combine targeted
radionuclide therapies (TRT) with immune checkpoint inhibition (ICI) to stimulate enhanced HNC response
profiles culminating in a Phase I clinical trial. Project 2 builds a powerful patient-specific bioengineered HNC
model system from patient cells that incorporates components of the tumor microenvironment to more accurately
predict HNC patient treatment response. The feasibility of using treatment response data from the model to
inform postoperative radiation therapy will be tested in a clinical pilot study. Project 3 examines dual targeting of
critical receptor tyrosine kinases Axl and MerTK to mediate changes in the immune microenvironment and
thereby augment tumor response in HNC patients. The Wisconsin SPORE will support this research with three
Cores (Administrative, Pathology and Biostatistics), a Career Enhancement Program and a Developmental
Research Program.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10495291
- **Project number:** 2P50CA278595-06A1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON
- **Principal Investigator:** PAUL M HARARI
- **Activity code:** P50 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $2,028,647
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 2016-08-02 → 2027-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10495291

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10495291, Head and Neck Cancer SPORE at the University of Wisconsin (2P50CA278595-06A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10495291. Licensed CC0.

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