The main goal of the Colorado Head and Neck Cancer Specialized Programs of Research Excellence (SPORE) is to advance translational research to improve survival and quality of life for Head and Neck Cancer patients. The Colorado Head and Neck Cancer SPORE takes advantage of our expertise in basic and clinical sciences and uses unique model systems to identify novel molecular and cellular mechanisms of Colorado Head and Neck Cancer pathogenesis targetable by therapeutic interventions to treat all cancer types arising from head and neck anatomic sites.
Director
Director
Scott Lucia, MD
Pathology
Scott.Lucia@cuanschutz.edu
Adrie van Bokhoven, PhD
Pathology
Adrie.vanBokhoven@cuanschutz.edu
The Biospecimen/Pathology Core (BPC) is essential to the success of the Colorado Head and Neck Cancer SPORE. The BPC is a central service that obtains tissues and information from patients with head and neck cancer. The collected tissue and information is stored and processed so that researchers have the best possible materials and information for their projects. In addition, the BPC provides unique skills and expertise in pathology and analysis technology to be successful in the execution of their projects.
Daniel Bowles, MD
Medical Oncology
Daniel.Bowles@cuanschutz.edu
Raphael Nemenoff, PhD
Renal Med-Diseases/Hypertension
Raphael.Nemenoff@cuanschutz.edu
The Career Enhancement Program (CEP) will encourage promising candidates at the University of Colorado Cancer Center to pursue translational research careers in head and neck cancer (HNC). The CEP will provide these investigators with financial support, mentorship for scientific projects and career development, and opportunities for collaboration. The long-term goal is to foster these individuals into successful independent research careers and to incorporate them and their new ideas/projects into the Colorado HNC SPORE.
Dr. Carissa Thomas
Department of Otolaryngology, UC AMC
“Development of the METS risk stratification tool in oral squamous cell carcinoma”
Dr. Shiruyeh Schokrpur
Division of Hematology/Oncology, UC Davis
“Interrogating the role of CD101 as a novel immune checkpoint in head and neck cancer”
We would like to thank all the applicants for their hard work. A new RFA will be sent out in early 2025.
Applications for 2025 are due July 15, 2025 by 5pm.
The Colorado Head and Neck Cancer (HNC) SPORE will fund 2-3 applications for Career Enhancement Projects (CEP) in HNC Research. One application from UCDavis will be selected for funding through the UCDCCC matching fund.
Eligibility: junior faculty members at the UCCC and the UCDCCC or advanced post-doctoral/clinical fellows who provide a letter from an institution stating the candidate will be joining its faculty within the next year are eligible for this program. Eligible candidates have not had NIH R-level funding. Candidates should have a track or planned track of research in HNC defined as head and neck squamous cell cancers (of mucosal origin), thyroid cancer and salivary gland cancer.
Women and minorities are strongly encouraged to apply; we will specifically aim to fund at least one application from an underrepresented minority (including underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, and individuals living with disabilities) applicant.
The application will be a maximum of three pages excluding cover page, biosketches, budget, bibliography, and letters of support.
Applications will consist of:
The deadline is 7/31/2024 by 5 pm.
Questions, please contact Pamela.Garl@cuanschutz.edu.
Dexiang Gao, PhD
Endocrinology
Dexiang.Gao@cuanschutz.edu
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The University of Colorado Head and Neck Cancer (CO HNC) SPORE Data Science Core (DSC) provides services for biostatistics, informatics, bioinformatics,
and other data science related analyses. The core includes a comprehensive team of biostatisticians, bioinformaticians, and an epidemiologist, that form a hub of researchers with the common denominator of being engaged in HNC research through
existing collaborations. The DSC will provide assistance with research hypotheses formulation, clinical trial designs, sample size determination, analytical and database design, data collection, analyses, management and storage. This support
will continue through management and coordination of accumulating research and clinical data analyses, assistance with manuscript preparation and clinical trial reports in relation to key quantitative findings and rigorous scientific conclusions.
Bryan Haugen, MD
Endocrinology/Metabolism/Diabetes
Bryan.Haugen@cuanschutz.edu
Mary Reyland, PhD
School of Dental Medicine/Hypertension
Mary.Reyland@cuanschutz.edu
The premise of the Developmental Research Program within the Colorado HNC SPORE application is that innovative, high-risk research from existing head and neck cancer researchers, and an influx of research from investigators with expertise outside of, but that can be applied to head and neck cancer, will catalyze significant advances in the understanding and treatment of HNC.
Drs. Rebecca Schweppe, Bryan Haugen, and Jennifer Richer
Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, and Department of Pathology, CU AMC
“Investigation of sex differences in thyroid cancer progression and targeting androgen receptors in BRAF inhibitor resistant disease”
Dr. Andrew Birkeland
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, UC Davis
“Investigating sociodemographic variables and liquid biomarkers associated with outcomes in underserved California communities”
Dr. Xinbin Chen
Surgical and Radiological Sciences, UC Davis
“Exploring the Therapeutic Potential of Copper Ionophores for the Treatment of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinomas via Targeting DNp63”
We would like to thank all the applicants for their hard work. A new RFA will be sent out in early 2025. The deadline will be July 15, 2025 by 5pm
The Colorado Head and Neck Cancer (HNC) SPORE will fund 2-3 applications for Developmental Research Projects in Head and Neck Cancer Research. One application from UCDavis will be selected for funding through the UCDCCC matching fund.
To be considered for Developmental Research Project (DRP) funding:
Women and minorities are strongly encouraged to apply. Multi-PIs with translational team of basic science and clinical science are desirable.
The application will be a maximum of six pages excluding cover page, biosketches, budget, bibliography, and letters of support. It should be formatted following NIH specifications (11 pt. Arial font, 0.5 margins etc).
Applications will consist of:
The deadline is 07/31/2024 by 5:00 P.M.
Questions, please contact Pamela.Garl@cuanschutz.edu.
Antonio Jimeno, MD, PhD
Medical Oncology
Antonio.Jimeno@cuanschutz.edu
Xiao-Jing Wang, MD, PhD
Pathology
XJ.Wang@cuanschutz.edu
Pamela Garl, MS, MBA
CU Cancer Center
Pamela.Garl@cuanschutz.edu
The goal of the Administrative Core of the Colorado Head and Neck Cancer (HNC) SPORE is to facilitate innovative translational science that will accelerate the application of new discoveries to the clinic for HNC patients. The primary objective of the Administrative Core is to provide scientific leadership, administrative services and financial oversight, and to function as a communication hub for all SPORE-related activities. The Administrative Core will support investigators and personnel in projects 1-3, the Biospecimen/Pathology Core, the Developmental Research Program (DRP), the Career Enhancement Program (CEP), and the Tissue Use Committee.