# Genetic Mechanisms

> **NIH NIH P30** · UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA · 2020 · $48,472

## Abstract

Genetic Mechanisms Program Summary
The scientific goals of the Genetic Mechanisms Program are to define and understand the genetic changes
that occur during cancer development, to understand the genesis of those changes, and to use gene transfer
technology to treat cancer. These goals include defining the specific changes that drive tumor initiation and
progression, lead to resistance to tumor treatment, and influence cancer susceptibility. To achieve these goals,
we feature strong research programs focused on the following Aims: 1) To identify cancer susceptibility genes,
DNA mutators, and drivers of metastasis to develop new biomarkers for cancer progression and drug targets
for therapeutic intervention; 2) To understand the mechanisms that maintain genome stability, including
pathways that control replication stress and DNA damage tolerance; and 3) To develop a new generation of
viral and nonviral cancer therapeutics that will be tested in preclinical animal models. The Genetic Mechanisms
Program is a basic science program led by Anja-Katrin Bielinsky, PhD, and new co-leader Masato Yamamoto,
MD, PhD, and has 43 members, representing 19 departments and 8 schools or colleges. Dr. Bielinsky
oversees the early phases of translation, and Dr. Yamamoto assists with later phases and facilitates active
collaborations with clinicians outside GM who are experts in clinical trials. For the last budget year, GM
members were supported by $2.9 million in direct costs from the National Cancer Institute, other NIH funding
totaled $7.2 million, total peer-reviewed funding was $10.95 million, and cancer-related funding from all
sponsored sources totaled $15.2 in direct costs. Since 2013, Program members have published 634 papers,
17% of which resulted from intraprogrammatic collaborations, 20% from interprogrammatic collaborations, and
85% from external collaborations. Over the past funding cycle, we enhanced our team-building efforts to
promote research in areas that span multiple themes. Uncovering the mechanisms that promote drug
resistance in solid tumors is one such area that aligns strongly with the Masonic Cancer Center Strategic Plan
Scientific Priority for Growth (SPG2) of enhancing functional genomics strategies to further our understanding
of cancer and develop new therapeutic avenues. Major accomplishments include 1) validation of novel
biomarkers that predict progression-free survival in solid tumors, 2) uncovering druggable targets in
osteosarcoma, 3) generating functional genomics pipelines that allow for the systematic identification of drug-
resistance pathways, and 4) generating a second-generation suite of oncolytic viruses that will improve
treatment of patients in our catchment area. The Masonic Cancer Center has provided substantial value to the
Program, including access to shared resources, recruitment of new faculty, funding of 26 pilot projects for
nearly $1M, annual research retreats, monthly Program meetings, weekly seminars, and a wee...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9859368
- **Project number:** 5P30CA077598-22
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
- **Principal Investigator:** Anja-Katrin Bielinsky
- **Activity code:** P30 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $48,472
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** — → —

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9859368

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9859368, Genetic Mechanisms (5P30CA077598-22). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9859368. Licensed CC0.

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