# 02 Cancer Cell Biology Program

> **NIH NIH P30** · UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM · 2020 · $121,913

## Abstract

02 CANCER CELL BIOLOGY (CCB) PROGRAM
ABSTRACT
Cancer Cell Biology (CCB) is a multidisciplinary program encompassing diverse scientific endeavors, which
provide new discoveries with a focus on developing novel therapeutics and driving further clinical investigation
through inter-programmatic collaborations. The overall goals of CCB investigators are to conduct the highest
quality basic science research in the thematic focus areas of the program, to elucidate novel pathways and
targets involved in tumorigenesis and metastasis, and to develop inhibitors that interfere with those pathways
and targets. Three integrated thematic areas within CCB all have strong translational components, and include
1) Signal Transduction Pathways; 2) Tumor Microenvironment and Metastasis; and 3) Gene Expression and
Genome Instability. An emerging crosscutting theme in Mitochondria and Cancer Energetics within CCB is
especially relevant to the overall CCC strategic plan, given the high rate of obesity within our catchment area,
and the increased risk of cancer in this population, with disproportionate representation of African Americans.
The CCB program has a strong cancer focus and is co-lead by Drs. Mary-Ann Bjornsti and Ralph
Sanderson. There are 49 members from UAB (11 departments and 5 schools), Southern Research Institute
and HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, with annual direct research support in the amount of $9,642,338,
which includes $6,628,357 in cancer related NIH funding. Major accomplishments during the last funding
period include: 1) the enhanced translational cancer focus of CCB member science in three integrated
thematic focus areas, 2) a robust pipeline of Alabama Drug Discovery Alliance Project, 3) development of a
multi-investigator Multiple Myeloma focus group, 4) novel platforms in cancer genomics (HudsonAlpha Institute
for Biotechnology) and phenomics, and 5) programmatically aligned Faculty recruitment. Indeed, CCC-
supported initiatives including the Alabama Drug Discovery Alliance, the consortium partnership with
HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, and the development of new shared resources, facilities, pilot funds
and model systems, have promoted the translational cancer focus of science investigations made by CCB
investigators. The CCB program has also been highly productive, with 412 publications in the past five years of
which 25% were inter-programmatic and 21% were intra-programmatic, and typifies the highly collaborative
research programs of CCB members.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9895661
- **Project number:** 5P30CA013148-48
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM
- **Principal Investigator:** MARY-ANN BJORNSTI
- **Activity code:** P30 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $121,913
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** — → 2022-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9895661

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9895661, 02 Cancer Cell Biology Program (5P30CA013148-48). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9895661. Licensed CC0.

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