Core 1: Tumor and Microenvironment Heterogeneity Core for pancreatic cancer
Official title: Core 1: Tumor and Microenvironment Heterogeneity Core (TMH Core)
Funded at Salk Institute for Biological Studies · NIH-11364237 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A dedicated core that helps study how immune and other cells in pancreatic tumors influence treatment resistance, using advanced genomic and spatial technologies.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Salk Institute for Biological Studies NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | July 6, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $419,658 |
| NIH project number | 5P01CA265762-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11364237 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates include patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) whose tumor samples can be studied for cellular diversity and interactions.
✕Less likely to help
Some patients may not directly benefit if their tumor biology differs from those most responsive to microenvironment-targeted approaches.
What this research studies
If you have pancreatic cancer or care for someone who does, this core will provide tools and expertise to study how different cells in the tumor and its surroundings contribute to why some therapies stop working. Researchers will use methods like single-cell sequencing and spatial profiling to map immune cells, fibroblasts, and other components in the tumor environment. The Core will support the main projects by offering genomics, bioinformatics, and immunology expertise to link cellular diversity to therapy resistance. This work could lead to better strategies to overcome resistance and improve treatments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could inform new therapies that target the tumor microenvironment to improve treatment responses.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies using single-cell and spatial profiling have shown that microenvironmental diversity correlates with treatment outcomes, supporting potential gains here.
Where this research is happening
-
Salk Institute for Biological Studies
La Jolla, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kaech, Susan M — Salk Institute for Biological Studies
- Study coordinator: Kaech, Susan M
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.