# Cancer Biology Program

> **NIH NIH P30** · UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA HLTH SCIENCES CTR · 2024 · $50,732

## Abstract

CANCER BIOLOGY PROGRAM: ABSTRACT
The overall goal of the Cancer Biology (CB) program at the Stephenson Cancer Center (SCC) is to foster
research in basic mechanisms that define normal and neoplastic cell growth to gain new insights into cancer
prevention, diagnosis and treatment. CB is a new program in this CCSG application, representing an evolution
of the previous Preclinical Translational Cancer Research (PTCR) program driven by a strategic reorganization
of programmatic research at the SCC. Research is organized around three integrated aims that focus on 1)
cancer cell signaling pathways, 2) tumor microenvironment and 3) mechanisms of chemoresistance. Specific
attention is placed on conducting basic mechanisms research related to Community Outreach and
Engagement (COE)-identified priority cancers that affect Oklahoma (the SCC catchment area). Program
members bring a diverse range of transdisciplinary expertise in basic cancer mechanisms, including: the
functions of oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes; regulators of cell cycle and apoptosis; regulators of
angiogenesis and metastasis; and aberrant signaling that leads to chemoresistance. The CB program seeks to
channel these transdisciplinary interests in a collaborative, team-based approach. Focused interactions for
members have helped foster collaboration and advance CB research. During the reporting period, the CB
program conducted 135 interactive activities, including meetings, seminars, and training events. The CB
program is led by Min Li, PhD and Resham Bhattacharya, PhD, who have complementary expertise in
investigating basic mechanisms of cancer (Li) and translating discoveries into clinical trials (Bhattacharya).
In 2021, the CB program had 39 total members (23 full, 16 associate), representing 11 different academic
departments. Total peer-reviewed research funding was $6.38M, of which $2.15M was from NCI (annual,
direct cost). More than a third (34%) of total peer-reviewed funding was from NCI, highlighting the cancer focus
of this basic science-oriented program. Total research funding was $7.29M, with 58 active cancer-focused
projects. CB members published 439 articles in peer-reviewed journals over the past five years. Of these, 24%
were intra-programmatic and an exceptional 41% were inter-programmatic, underscoring the high degree of
collaboration, both within the program and with members in the SCC’s Cancer Therapeutics (CT) and Cancer
Prevention and Control (CPC) programs. Multi-institutional publications (n=297) account for 68% of the total.
The number and percentage of high-impact publications increased over the period, from 12 (14%) in 2017 to
24 (24%) in 2021, averaging 18% for the period. This significant increase in high-impact publications highlights
the quality of science being conducted by CB members.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10838551
- **Project number:** 5P30CA225520-07
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA HLTH SCIENCES CTR
- **Principal Investigator:** Resham Bhattacharya
- **Activity code:** P30 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $50,732
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-05-01 → 2028-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10838551

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10838551, Cancer Biology Program (5P30CA225520-07). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-27 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10838551. Licensed CC0.

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