Racial differences in how head and neck cancer develops at the molecular level
Official title: Racial differences in Immunogenetic Tumorigenesis of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Funded at Johns Hopkins University · NIH-11373510 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This NIH grant explores how genetic and immune factors may drive head and neck cancer to grow and spread, with a focus on racial differences.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | July 18, 2022 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $411,177 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA265975-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11373510 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with premalignant lesions, primary tumors, or metastatic oral/oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma, including diverse racial backgrounds.
✕Less likely to help
Some patients may not experience direct benefits if their disease biology does not match the studied signatures.
What this research studies
This project uses advanced genomic and spatial profiling to study oral squamous cell cancer, looking at how premalignant changes evolve into invasive disease. It will analyze biopsy samples from different stages and diverse patient groups to map cellular programs and immune interactions. The goal is to identify molecular patterns that predict progression and potential targets for future therapies. The work emphasizes translational insights that could inform personalized care for patients with oral cancer.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could help tailor prevention, monitoring, and treatment strategies for patients at risk of progression to invasive head and neck cancer.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies show that molecular profiling can reveal pathways linked to cancer progression and treatment response, supporting this approach's potential.
Where this research is happening
-
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sidransky, David — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Sidransky, David
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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.