Contact:

Suresh Mohla, Ph.D.
Chief, Tumor Biology and Metastasis Research
Division of Cancer Biology
National Cancer Institute
6130 Executive Boulevard, EPN Room 5038, MSC 7364
Bethesda, MD 20892-7364 (for U.S. Postal Service express or regular delivery)
Rockville, MD 20852 (for express/courier delivery)
Telephone: (301) 435-1878
FAX: (301) 480-0864
E-mail: mohlas@mail.nih.gov

Objective of Project:

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) invites cooperative agreement applications from groups of investigators interested in becoming components of the NCI Tumor Microenvironment Network (TMEN, also referred to as the “Network”). TMEN will consist of inter-connected, multidisciplinary teams of investigators and collaborative groups that will work together on projects focused on the tumor microenvironment.

The main objective of the TMEN initiative is to delineate mechanisms of tumor-stroma interactions in human cancer. Such an effort is likely to generate a more comprehensive understanding of the composition(s) of the stroma in normal tissues as well as of the role(s) of the stroma in tumor initiation, progression, and metastasis.

Description of Project:

Through use of the NIH U54 cooperative agreement mechanism, this funding opportunity is intended to support a network of up to six individual Research Programs, each consisting of multi-disciplinary teams of investigators with expertise in specific tumor site(s) and using human cancer samples and/or well-defined vertebrate models. Outside of the set-aside funds for the U54 mechanism, up to two NIH intramural Research Programs are anticipated to be funded as additional non-U54 components of TMEN. NIH intramural project applications will be reviewed and scored with the U54 applications. The NIH intramural projects selected by the NCI to be components of the TMEN will participate in a manner that is analogous to the U54 awardees. Investigators funded via this funding opportunity will be part of the TMEN. As members of the Network, grantees will also be expected to participate in collaborative efforts developed within TMEN that are directed at: (1) developing critical resources and reagents; (2) developing novel technologies; and (3) outreach activities to ensure dissemination of such resources and technologies to the broader research community. It is intended that such an infrastructure will not only establish repositories of critical reagents, resources, and information, but also promote and facilitate interdisciplinary collaborations and progress in understanding the role of host stroma in tumorigenesis