# Tumor Biology and Microenvironment Program

> **NIH NIH P30** · COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES · 2024 · $98,875

## Abstract

TUMOR BIOLOGY AND MICROENVIRONMENT PROGRAM: SUMMARY
The Tumor Biology and Microenvironment (TBM) Program investigates cell-autonomous processes that
underlie signaling pathways and cancer stemness as well as tumor cell-extrinsic mechanisms by which stromal
niche factors and immune components modulate malignancy. Members pursue studies of novel
immunotherapies and other stromal targeted therapeutics (e.g. neuronal cells), and incorporate new findings and
innovative approaches such as 3D organoid cultures for translation to pre-clinical applications and development
of early-stage clinical trials. The TBM program is led by Michael Shen, PhD, Timothy Wang, MD, and Charles
Drake, MD, PhD who have complementary scientific expertise. They direct a program with 49 members who
have been collectively responsible for $16.4M of cancer-focused peer-reviewed funding in 2019, as well as 800
publications, of which 251 publications in journals with an impact factor >10 in the current funding period. During
the project period, there were 486 accruals to clinical trials, of which 235 were investigator-initiated, and 139
corresponded to underrepresented minority patients.
The TBM Program pursues three interrelated Specific Aims: (1) Investigation of tissue stem/progenitor cells and
cancer cell stemness to identify molecular mechanisms that drive tumor malignancy and plasticity, and to identify
strategies to target these processes; (2) Analysis of the tumor microenvironment to understand how stromal-
epithelial cell interactions and components of the stem cell niche can modulate tumor growth; and (3)
Investigation of tumor immunology and immunotherapy to elucidate the interaction of immune cells with cancer
stem cells and the mechanisms that underlie the resistance of tumors to immunotherapy. In particular, the TBM
Program addresses research relevant for the catchment area by focusing on prostate cancer in African-American
men, as well as studies of triple-negative breast and pancreatic cancers. The TBM Program fosters the growth
of Members through meetings and retreats, development funds, support of multi-investigator grant proposals,
support through Shared Resources, strategic faculty recruitments, and interactions with the other HICCC
Programs. The TBM Program also provides leadership in cancer research career enhancement through
mentorship of early-stage researchers through training grants, fellowships and career development awards.
Future goals of the TBM program include support for strategic recruitments of senior and junior faculty (areas of
therapies that target the interactions of cancer stem cells and the tumor microenvironment), increased clinical
trials in the area of immunotherapy including overcoming nodes of resistance, and development of inter-
programmatic platforms for precision oncology.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10880403
- **Project number:** 5P30CA013696-49
- **Recipient organization:** COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES
- **Principal Investigator:** MICHAEL M. SHEN
- **Activity code:** P30 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $98,875
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1997-07-04 → 2025-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10880403

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10880403, Tumor Biology and Microenvironment Program (5P30CA013696-49). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10880403. Licensed CC0.

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