# Immunogenomics platform for the analysis of cancer

> **NIH NIH R50** · CLEVELAND CLINIC LERNER COM-CWRU · 2024 · $212,567

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
The goal of this proposal is to provide support for my main roles as a Laboratory-based Research Specialist in
my Unit Director Dr. Timothy Chan’s research program and as the director of the Computational
Immunogenomics Platform (IGP) towards successful fulfillment of NCI-funded projects and programs. My
primary role is focused on computational analysis of various cancer patient-derived Next Generation sequencing
(NGS) datasets to advance the field of immunogenomics and precision oncology. For the Unit Director’s
laboratory, which is primarily driven by NCI-funded research programs, I am the essential driver of all
computational efforts to leverage cancer and immunogenomics to address critical translational questions. In the
past decade, the Unit Director and I have pioneered computational frameworks to delineate the molecular drivers
of immunotherapy efficacy in patients across various malignancies, including non-small cell lung cancer and
melanoma. Our discoveries have led to the first tumor type-agnostic FDA approval of pembrolizumab in cancer
patients with unresectable or metastatic tumors with high tumor mutation burden or microsatellite instability. My
personal ambition is to continue to create deep impact on the lives of cancer patients by pushing technological
advances in genomics to the clinical setting, which aligns effectively with the goals of my Unit Director and
collaborators. My 20 years of experience in bioinformatics-based research also has allowed me to be a
successful leader and director of the IGP, a team of dynamic and talented computational biologists that provide
collaborative research support for scientists and clinicians in the broader community of the Cleveland Clinic. My
career goals are to (a) ultimately foster more independence as a collaborative Laboratory-based Research
Specialist for the NCI-funded research projects of my Unit Director and collaborators; (b) leverage genomics to
improve our understanding of tumor immunity; (c) continually advance IGP and continue to create cutting edge
immunogenomics algorithms and tools; (d) make computational biology tools more accessible to the broader
scientific community through workshops & courses; (e) enable other scientists and clinicians to perform the best
science possible and helping them to achieve their publication and funding goals; and (f) enrich my knowledge
base and skills by attending scientific and medical conferences. The Research Specialist R50 Award will allow
me to accomplish these personal ambitions and career goals, and benefit the NCI with the bioinformatics-based
support that I provide for NCI-funded projects to create a long-lasting and positive impact in the field of
oncological research.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10977134
- **Project number:** 1R50CA293821-01
- **Recipient organization:** CLEVELAND CLINIC LERNER COM-CWRU
- **Principal Investigator:** Vladimir Makarov
- **Activity code:** R50 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $212,567
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-09-13 → 2029-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10977134

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10977134, Immunogenomics platform for the analysis of cancer (1R50CA293821-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10977134. Licensed CC0.

---

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