# Pediatric and Adult Translational Cancer Drug Discovery and Development Training Program (PACT-D3)

> **NIH NIH T32** · INDIANA UNIVERSITY INDIANAPOLIS · 2024 · $164,494

## Abstract

Abstract
This training program is unique for our institution, creating the next generation of basic and clinical investigators
who focus their efforts on strategic and comprehensive drug discovery and development in cancer. This program
capitalizes on a strong infrastructure and institutional commitment to the training of graduate student trainees for
careers in pediatric and adult drug discovery and development. The addition of a pediatric cancer focus
addresses an unmet need as well as a major focus of NCI as determined by the NCI's board of scientific
advisors and the resulting Childhood Cancer Data (CCDI) initiative. The wealth of adult experience and pediatric
researchers is uniquely being used in this T32 to develop novel approaches in pediatric drug discovery. There
are no current NCI T32s with an emphasis on both pediatric and adult cancer drug discovery and development
training. Cancer remains the leading cause of disease-related death in children. For the many children who
experience relapses of their malignant solid tumors curative treatment options are scarce. The pediatric efforts
will dovetail with the multi-institutional “Developmental and HyperActive Ras Tumor (DHART)” SPORE led by
multi-PI Dr. Wade Clapp focusing on neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1)—the most common human genetic cancer
predisposition syndrome. Findings in this SPORE have led to new clinical trials for pediatric patients, and it is
anticipated additional new drugs will need to be developed that is beyond the scope of the SPORE. In addition,
the NIH/NICHD-funded P50, “Specialized Centers in Research in Pediatric Developmental Pharmacology” is
using precision genomics strategies and in vivo modeling to design efficacious and safe combination therapies
for relapsed solid tumors such as osteosarcoma and additional new targets for potential drug development are
being identified. This highlights our focus and opportunity to identify new drug targets and develop new drugs
specifically for pediatric patients. This program will be supported by collaborative efforts from other programs at
the IU School of Medicine (IUSM) including the NCI designated IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center
(IUSCCC); the Cancer Drug Discovery and Development (CDDD) center which is embedded in the IUSCCC
Experimental and Developmental Therapeutics (EDT) program; the TaRget Engagement to Accelerate Therapy
Development for Alzheimer's Disease (TREAT-AD) Center and the Indiana CTSI Preclinical Innovation “Think
Tank” program. We will focus on graduate students as trainees, who will be recruited from two centralized
programs that oversee graduate student recruitment and guide trainees in selecting mentors and home
departments. These two programs are the Indiana BioMedical Gateway (IBMG) program, which enrolls ~36
graduate students per year and MSTP which enrolls ~10 per year. Eighteen mentors are intimately involved in
this program and drug development efforts at the school. The goal of PACT-D3 is focus...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10915428
- **Project number:** 5T32CA272370-02
- **Recipient organization:** INDIANA UNIVERSITY INDIANAPOLIS
- **Principal Investigator:** David W Clapp
- **Activity code:** T32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $164,494
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-09-01 → 2028-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10915428

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10915428, Pediatric and Adult Translational Cancer Drug Discovery and Development Training Program (PACT-D3) (5T32CA272370-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10915428. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*