# Project 1 - Molecular and Cellular Determinants of High Risk Gastric Precancerous Lesions

> **NIH NIH P01** · STANFORD UNIVERSITY · 2023 · $368,913

## Abstract

ABSTRACT – PROJECT 1
The main objective of Project 1 is to deconvolute the molecular features of high-risk gastric cancer precursor
lesions. Dr. Hanlee Ji, Project Leader, previously found that the epithelium of early gastric cancer is characterized
by distinct genomic, transcriptomic and cellular properties. In addition, the Ji Group has identified a distinct gene
expression profile associated with high-risk precancerous gastric lesions compared to low-risk lesions and
normal controls. Project 1 represents a continuation of this work with a specific focus on characterizing the
genetic and molecular profile of precancerous gastric tissue. There are two specific aims to this project:
 (1) Identify the specific gene expression signatures associated with high-risk gastric intestinal metaplasia
(GIM).
 (2) Characterize aberrant epithelial cells and their subtypes in high-risk gastric cancer precursors.
In Aim 1, Dr. Ji will employ bulk RNA sequencing and spatial transcriptomics to study GIM lesions that range
across the spectrum of neoplastic progression. Hp infection status will be used as a stratifying risk factor. These
results will identify the molecular profile associated with the highest risk of progression to gastric cancer and Hp-
associated alterations in stomach cells. Aim 2 will use single cell multi-omics to identify the subset of GIM
epithelial cells with somatic mutations, copy number alterations and epigenetic patterns that are associate with
gastric cancer. The results will determine the genetic and genomic features of epithelial cells that comprise high-
risk precancerous lesions in the stomach. Ultimately, this project will elucidate the precise molecular and cellular
features associated with high-risk GIM to gain novel insight into the molecular, cellular and genomic factors that
contribute to a high-risk premalignant state.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10715762
- **Project number:** 1P01CA265772-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** STANFORD UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Hanlee P Ji
- **Activity code:** P01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** $368,913
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2023-09-20 → 2028-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10715762

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10715762, Project 1 - Molecular and Cellular Determinants of High Risk Gastric Precancerous Lesions (1P01CA265772-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10715762. Licensed CC0.

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