# BLRD Research Career Scientist Award Application

> **NIH VA IK6** · VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION · 2024 · —

## Abstract

Project Summary:
Dr. Rhoades (formerly Sterling) is currently funded by a VA Merit award entitled “Reprograming tumor
associated macrophages to induce anti-tumor immune responses in bone metastatic breast cancer.” She
began in the VA in 2010 with a CDA and has maintained VA Merit funding since 2013. Her work seeks to
identify novel therapeutic strategies to reduce tumor induced bone destruction from tumors that
frequently spread to the bone. Once established these tumors disrupt normal bone remodeling leading
to increased fractures and bone complications. Unfortunately, Veterans experience higher rates of
invasive and metastatic tumors and reduced survival. They also have higher rates of bone diseases (from
trauma, exposure, and other diseases) which can further complicate therapeutic intervention. Dr.
Rhoades is a leader in the cancer and bone field and has dedicated her career to understanding
interactions between tumors, bone, bone marrow and cancer therapies. Her goal is to identify novel
approaches that can improve diagnosis, outcome predictions, and therapies that will ultimately improve
Veteran quality of life and disease-free survival. Through this work, Dr. Rhoades has been funded by the
DOD, NIH, and non-profit funding sources and has published her work regularly in well-respected bone
and cancer journals. In addition, she is president of the Cancer and Bone Society, a co-editor-in-chief of
the Journal of Bone Oncology and actively participates in cancer and bone meetings and societies.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10804769
- **Project number:** 1IK6BX006476-01
- **Recipient organization:** VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
- **Principal Investigator:** Julie A Rhoades (Sterling)
- **Activity code:** IK6 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** VA
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** —
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2023-10-01 → 2028-09-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10804769

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10804769, BLRD Research Career Scientist Award Application (1IK6BX006476-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10804769. Licensed CC0.

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