Molecular Characterization Trial for bladder cancer and head & neck cancer patients
Official title: Molecular Characterization Trial
Funded at Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru · NIH-11416564 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A patient-friendly program that collects tissue and data from bladder cancer and head & neck cancer patients before, during, and after radiotherapy to guide personalized treatments with radiation and targeted drugs.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cleveland, United States) |
| Project start | September 14, 2022 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $131,487 |
| NIH project number | 5U54CA274513-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11416564 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with muscle invasive bladder cancer or head and neck squamous cell carcinoma scheduled to receive radiotherapy, with consent to longitudinal biospecimen collection.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not treated with radiotherapy or unwilling to provide serial samples may not benefit.
What this research studies
This program follows patients with muscle invasive bladder cancer or head and neck cancer who are receiving radiotherapy. Researchers collect biospecimens and multimodal data over time to understand how tumors respond to radiation and new targeted therapies. The goal is to integrate this information into smarter, personalized treatment plans, including immune-therapy combinations. It is designed as a small, high-detail study that can inform future care pathways. Participation involves serial sample collection and clinical data sharing with the research team.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, it could lead to more effective, individualized radiotherapy strategies and better use of targeted agents for bladder and head & neck cancers.
How similar studies have gone: Similar longitudinal biospecimen studies in cancer have provided actionable insights for treatment planning, though this specific approach is novel in its multi-cohort, immune-radiobiology focus.
Where this research is happening
-
Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru
Cleveland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gupta, Shilpa — Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru
- Study coordinator: Gupta, Shilpa
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.