# Gastrointestinal Cancer (GIC)

> **NIH NIH P30** · UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA MEDICAL CENTER · 2020 · $74,575

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract: Gastrointestinal Cancer Program (GICP) 
The Gastrointestinal Cancer Program (GICP) is a new Program in the FPBCC, established during the current 
cycle of support. The overall goals of the GICP are to better understand the pathogenesis and 
pathophysiology of GI cancers, identify and validate new diagnostic and prognostic tools for GI cancer 
management, and develop new therapeutic options for patients with GI malignancies. To address these goals, 
the GICP has been organized into three interacting themes, each of which integrates basic and translational 
science: Mechanisms of GI Tumorigenesis, Biomarkers, and Novel Treatment Approaches. The establishment 
of the GICP reflects the success of a longstanding Working Group in Pancreatic Cancer at UNMC, the 
foundation of which includes a SPORE in Pancreatic Cancer and a robust Rapid Autopsy Program for 
comprehensive collection of tissues from pancreatic cancer patients. Additional support for research initiatives 
in pancreatic cancer comes from several multi-investigator grants in the area of biomarker discovery and 
validation and novel treatment approaches. Accomplishments in pancreatic cancer have recently been 
extended to colon cancer, with recruitment of five investigators with expertise in colon cancer research serving 
to lay the foundation for this developing focus area through strong translational research initiatives and 
promising clinical potential. The Program is co-led by a clinician scientist, Sarah Thayer, MD, PhD and a basic 
scientist, Jennifer Black, PhD, with complementary expertise in pancreatic cancer pathogenesis and treatment 
and basic mechanisms of colon cancer and biomarkers, respectively. The Program has 22 members from 
eight departments, and includes 12 basic scientists and 10 clinician scientists. The Co-Directors leverage their 
expertise to enhance inter- and intra-programmatic collaboration through the development of new shared 
resources, the evaluation and funding of pilot projects supporting the GICP mission, the attraction of high 
profile speakers for Grand Rounds and regular seminar series, the organization of regular programmatic 
meetings, and the identification of opportunities for clinical advancement of research findings. These activities 
have promoted a strongly collaborative group as demonstrated by inter- and intra-programmatic publications 
and grants. Clinical investigators have facilitated the translation of recent preclinical findings into new 
therapeutic clinical trials. Total peer-reviewed funding for the program is currently $7.13M; direct costs amount 
to $4.79M of which 74% is from the National Cancer Institute. 386 manuscripts were published by GICP 
investigators during the previous funding period, of which 17% are intra-programmatic, 31% are inter- 
programmatic, and 11% are both intra- and inter-programmatic. Strategic planning for the upcoming funding 
period includes growth of the colon cancer research foc...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9981658
- **Project number:** 5P30CA036727-34
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA MEDICAL CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** Jennifer D. Black
- **Activity code:** P30 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $74,575
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1997-09-05 → 2021-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9981658

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9981658, Gastrointestinal Cancer (GIC) (5P30CA036727-34). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9981658. Licensed CC0.

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