Prostate cancer pilot project program

Developmental Research Program

NIH-funded research Northwestern University · NIH-11181021

This program provides short-term funding to turn lab discoveries into new tests or treatments for people with prostate cancer.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionNorthwestern University NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Chicago, United States)
Project IDNIH-11181021 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

The program supports 4-6 small pilot projects each year that aim to move prostate cancer discoveries toward the clinic. Projects receive flexible support for up to two years so investigators can refine ideas, run early experiments, and prepare for larger trials. Peer review selects promising proposals and the program monitors progress to help successful pilots advance. Many projects in this SPORE have grown from pilots into clinical efforts.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates are men with prostate cancer who might join future clinical trials spawned by these pilot projects or who can donate blood or tissue for related research.

Not a fit: People without prostate cancer or those who do not meet future trial criteria are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this program.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the program could speed development of new diagnostics or therapies for men with prostate cancer.

How similar studies have performed: Other SPORE developmental programs have previously produced pilot projects that led to successful clinical trials and new patient options.

Where this research is happening

Chicago, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.