# Developmental Cancer Therapeutics

> **NIH NIH P30** · BECKMAN RESEARCH INSTITUTE/CITY OF HOPE · 2020 · $68,905

## Abstract

Developmental Cancer Therapeutics Program
ABSTRACT
The Developmental Cancer Therapeutics (DCT) Program has evolved considerably since 2012 with an
increased focus on both solid tumor oncology and the translational aspects of advancing basic science into
early-phase clinical trials in rapid fashion. Under the leadership of David Horne, PhD and Edward Newman, PhD,
the central theme and overarching goal of DCT are the in-house development of novel, molecularly targeted
therapies and drug delivery systems for intractable cancers. Although DCT has continued the Program's long-
standing strength in evaluating cancer therapeutics developed through industry partnerships, the emphasis of
the DCT Program is to advance important basic discoveries made at the City of Hope Cancer Comprehensive
Center (COHCCC). To this end, DCT has established clear scientific goals that fall under three central themes:
1) Support target-directed drug development by identifying and validating new molecular cancer
targets/pathways and developing corresponding pharmacological agents; 2) Develop novel drug delivery
platforms to improve specificity and efficacy of clinical outcomes; and 3) Translate basic discovery and preclinical
studies into early-phase clinical trials. The DCT program extends across eight departments and encompasses a
total of 29 Members, of which 12 are basic researchers and 17 are clinicians/clinician scientists. Through the
Program, close intra- and inter-programmatic collaborations are fostered among basic scientists and clinical
investigators, which in turn has yielded an increase in the number of COH-initiated agents currently under clinical
investigation. During the previous grant period, significant infrastructure has been established for the creation of
a strong translational research program with greater focus on solid tumor oncology, resulting in a continuous
flow of new therapeutic approaches poised for early-phase clinical trials. The emphasis is on speed and precision
medicine. With only GLP toxicity studies and some formulation work contracted outside, the DCT Program can
rapidly translate discoveries to the clinic. This Program has been further enhanced by the strategic recruitment
of key faculty (Chen, Fakih, Fong, Gold, and Salgia), implementation of a drug discovery pipeline, and cGMP
manufacturing capability for small molecule drugs, such as COH29, through COH’s in-house Chemical cGMP
Synthesis Facility. During the next funding period, we anticipate robust translation of our new therapeutic
approaches from the discovery phase to first-in-human clinical trials and continued close collaboration with other
regional and national Comprehensive Cancer Centers.
Membership: 29 Program Members representing 8 basic and clinical departments
Publications: 503 total. 20.1% intra-programmatic; 36.4% inter-programmatic; 41.2% inter-institutional
Funding: $4,751,305 peer-reviewed; $1,794,235 of which is NCI funding

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9849209
- **Project number:** 5P30CA033572-37
- **Recipient organization:** BECKMAN RESEARCH INSTITUTE/CITY OF HOPE
- **Principal Investigator:** DAVID HORNE
- **Activity code:** P30 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $68,905
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** — → —

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9849209

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9849209, Developmental Cancer Therapeutics (5P30CA033572-37). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9849209. Licensed CC0.

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