# D.R.I.V.E: Catalyzing Oncology Research Excellence and Enhancing Grant Writing Proficiency through Expert Mentorship

> **NIH NIH P30** · UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA HLTH SCIENCES CTR · 2024 · $197,241

## Abstract

OVERALL: ABSTRACT
Since achieving NCI designation in 2018, the Stephenson Cancer Center (SCC) at the University of Oklahoma
has continued to grow and mature as an organization. The SCC’s vision to eliminate cancer in Oklahoma and
beyond is advanced through its mission to provide patient-centered, research-driven, multidisciplinary cancer
care to all Oklahomans. As Oklahoma’s only NCI-designated cancer center, the SCC serves a statewide
catchment area that presents unique challenges with social determinants of health and high disparities in
cancer incidence and mortality, especially for the state’s American Indian (AI), Black/African American, and
rural populations. The SCC has the ability to be impactful in its catchment area and nationally due to
strategically targeted recruitments and investments that have leveraged key differentiating factors: 1) the SCC
continues to invest in creating and sustaining health and research partnerships with AI tribal partners
throughout Oklahoma and currently has 22 NIH funded projects addressing AI cancer disparities; 2) the SCC
continues to be a national leader in the NCI/NCTN and has established a statewide network of affiliate sites to
ensure access to NCI-sponsored clinical trials throughout its catchment area; 3) the SCC has developed strong
team-based research across all of its programs with national leadership in gynecologic, colon, and pancreatic
cancers, cancer prevention, cancer therapeutics, gero-oncology, and tobacco control; and 4) the SCC is
building upon its national leadership in mobile health technologies to address the burden on cancer in rural and
vulnerable populations.
Multiple NCI CCSG metrics emphasize the growth and maturation of the SCC during the reporting period
(2017-21). SCC membership increased from 83 to 120 (45%), with 31 of these new members being externally
recruited to add expertise to programs. Annual, peer-reviewed research funding (DC) grew 61% ($14.28M 
$22.97M) and total annual research funding grew 42% ($30.13M  $43.09M). The overall five-year number of
scientific publications has increased by 54% since the last reporting period (945  1,454), with 16% having an
impact factor ≥10 (up from 7%). Team science has been emphasized resulting in 139 collaborative grants
(36% increase) and a 17% inter-programmatic publication rate (up from 4%) over the prior reporting period.
The number of annual active interventional IITs has doubled from 20 to 40 over the past five years, with annual
accruals to interventional IITs increasing from 661 (2017) to 927 (2021) – a 40% increase. This degree of
impactful growth has been possible due to the infrastructure made available through the CCSG and has
positioned the SCC for a successful renewal as a NCI-designated cancer center.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 11142153
- **Project number:** 3P30CA225520-07S2
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA HLTH SCIENCES CTR
- **Principal Investigator:** ROBERT S. MANNEL
- **Activity code:** P30 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $197,241
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2018-05-01 → 2028-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/11142153

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 11142153, D.R.I.V.E: Catalyzing Oncology Research Excellence and Enhancing Grant Writing Proficiency through Expert Mentorship (3P30CA225520-07S2). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/11142153. Licensed CC0.

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