As we all know, obesity-driven cancers (ODCs) have emerged as a significant medical issue in recent years and they have captured the attention of the scientific community globally. This has led to a surge in research activities at different levels- starting from the grassroots to the upper echelons of government.
This is an evolving field of research and requires extensive attention to understand the complex mechanisms that lie underneath. In an effort to facilitate this research, several grants have been provided to scientists around the country to further explore the relationship between obesity and cancer. This has opened up numerous avenues for exploration and it is hoped that the findings will lead to a greater understanding of the biological processes involved in this relationship. The grants have been instrumental in advancing our knowledge of this field and sparking new insights into the link between obesity and cancer.
The National Institute of Health (NIH), National Cancer Institute, Division of Cancer Control & Population Sciences host an Epidemiology ang Genomics Research Program and offer funding and grants at the following link.
Funded Projects:
- Ceramides as Novel Drivers of Metabolic Dysfunction and Colorectal Cancer
- Institution: University of Utah
- Contact Principal Investigator (PI): Mary C. Playdon, PhD, MPH
- NCI Program Director: Tram Kim Lam, PhD, MPH; Epidemiology and Genomics Research Program, Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences
- Decoding Mechanisms Underlying Metabolic Dysregulation in Obesity and Digestive Cancer Risk
- Institution: Brigham and Women’s Hospital
- Contact PI: Deirdre K. Tobias, ScD
- NCI Program Director: Tram Kim Lam, PhD, MPH; Environmental Epidemiology Branch, Epidemiology and Genomics Research Program, Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences
- Determine the Molecular and Metabolic Mechanisms by which A-FABP Links Dysregulated Lipid Metabolism-Induced Obesity/Breast Cancer Risk
- Institution: University of Iowa
- Contact PI: Bing Li, PhD
- NCI Program Director: Phil Daschner, MSc; Cancer Immunology, Hematology, and Etiology Branch, Division of Cancer Biology
- Determining the Contribution of Microbial-Derived Metabolites to Protective Immunity in Obesity-Driven Cancer Risk
- Institution: University of Tennessee Health Science Center
- Contact PI: Liza Makowski-Hayes, PhD, MS
- Program Director: Phil Dashcher, MSc; Cancer Immunology, Hematology, and Etiology Branch, Division of Cancer Biology
- A Transdisciplinary Approach to Investigate Metabolic Dysregulation in Obese Parent and Child Dyads and Risk of Colorectal Cancer
- Institution: University of South Carolina
- Contact PI: James R. Hébert, ScD
- Program Director: Sharon Ross, PhD, MPH; Nutritional Science Research Group, Division of Cancer Prevention
- Metabolic Dysregulation and Cancer Risk Program Coordinating Center
- Institution: George Washington University
- Contact PI: Ella Temprosa, PhD
- Program Director: Tram Kim Lam, PhD, MPH; Environmental Epidemiology Branch, Epidemiology and Genomics Research Program, Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences
| Date | Title | Recipent | Responsible Party | Sponsor | Tissue/Organ/Disease | Drug or Method | Amount | Clinical Trial |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 7, 2021 | Metabolic Dysregulation and Cancer Risk Program, Research Grants: a Transdisciplinary Approach to Obesity-Associated Research (U01 Clinical Trials Optional) | NIH/NCI | ||||||
| 08/30/2023 | UCSD NAFLD Research Center | Rohit Loomba, UCSD | Novo Nordisk | Fibrosis, Liver Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Obese Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease | semaglutide | $9,500,000 | NCT06005012 – SAMARA |
Funding Agencies
Federal Grants
1. National Institutes of Health (NIH)
– Specific institutes like the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) offer grants related to cancer and obesity research.
2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
– Occasionally offers grants related to chronic diseases like cancer and obesity.
State-Specific Funding
1. Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT)
– Being based in Houston, you might be particularly interested in this. They offer grants for cancer research within the state of Texas.
Foundations and Organizations
1. American Cancer Society (ACS)
– ACS provides grants for researchers working in the field of cancer.
2. Susan G. Komen Foundation
– Offers funding for breast cancer research, which may be relevant if your focus includes obesity-related breast cancers.
3. World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF)
– Provides grants related to cancer prevention, including lifestyle factors like obesity.
4. Obesity Society
– Focuses on all aspects of obesity and may have funding opportunities relevant to its relationship with cancer.
Academic Grants
– Universities often have internal grant schemes to support research, so check if your institution offers such options.
Industry Collaborations
– Pharmaceutical companies and other private entities sometimes fund research that aligns with their business interests.
Other Resources
1. GrantWatch
– A platform that lists various types of grants and could help you find more specific opportunities.
2. Pivot-RP
– A searchable database for funding opportunities in various disciplines.
References:
1. NIH Research Project Grant (R01)
2. CDC Grants
3. CPRIT
4. ACS
5. Susan G. Komen
6. World Cancer Research Fund
States with Funding for Cancer Programs
Many states in the U.S. have recognized the importance of cancer research and have established grant programs to fund this research at the state level. Here are some states that have been known to offer grants for cancer research:
1. California: The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) and the California Breast Cancer Research Program (CBCRP) are among the organizations that have provided research grants in the state.
2. Texas: The Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) is a significant entity that funds cancer research within the state. Given that you are based in Houston, this might be particularly relevant to your interests. Here is a list of the current obesity-related grants at CPRIT:
| Grant ID | Title | Program | Primary Investigator/Program Director | Organization | Cancer Types | Award Date | Award Amount1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RP220650 | Targeting Nitric Oxide Synthase (NOS) pathway to remodel obesity induced tumor inflammation in patients with TNBC | Academic Research | Chang, Jenny | The Methodist Hospital Research Institute | Breast | 9/14/2022 | $250,000 |
| RP200604 | Targeting Plasma Membrane Spatial Dynamics to Suppress Obesity-Induced Colon Cancer | Academic Research | Chapkin, Robert S | Texas Agrilife Research | Colorectal | 8/19/2020 | $250,000 |
| PP180026 | Pasos Para Prevenir Cancer: Obesity-related Cancer Prevention in El Paso | Prevention | Salinas, Jennifer J | Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at El Paso | Breast, Colorectal, Pancreas, Prostate, Uterus | 8/24/2018 | $1,244,512 |
| RP180801 | Targeting the Menopause Transition to Decrease the Risk for Obesity-Associated Postmenopausal Breast Cancer | Academic Research | Giles, Erin | Texas Agrilife Research | Breast | 8/24/2018 | $200,000 |
| RP140412 | Endotrophin and the Obesity/Cancer Nexus: Role in Growth and Chemoresistance | Academic Research | Scherer, Philipp | The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center | Breast | 8/20/2014 | $899,997 |
| RP140609 | A Missing Link Between Obesity and Cancer: Adipose Derived Stem Cells | Academic Research | Klopp, Ann | The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center | Ovary | 8/20/2014 | $610,704 |
| PP120167 | Managing Obesity in Primary Care: Training Clinicians & Staff in Patient Behavior Change Skills | Prevention | Calmbach, Walter L | The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio | All Sites | 8/2/2012 | $499,907 |
| RP101255 | Cancer in the Era of Obesity | Academic Research | Bickel, Perry | The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston | Other | 1/20/2010 | $12,000 |
| RP220267 | Organelle communication during transition from fatty liver to hepatocellular carcinoma | Academic Research | Morita, Masahiro | The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio | Gallbladder, Liver and Intrahepatic Bile Duct | 2/16/2022 | $1,050,000 |
| RP200509 | Genome-Wide DNA Methylation Markers for Predicting the Risk of Liver Cancer in Non- Alcoholic Fatty Livers | Academic Research | Tsai, Robert | Texas A&M University System Health Science Center | Gallbladder, Liver and Intrahepatic Bile Duct | 8/19/2020 | $250,000 |
| RP200620 | Targeting Fatty Acid Synthesis in NAFLD Related HCC | Academic Research | Dong, Bingning | Baylor College of Medicine | Gallbladder, Liver and Intrahepatic Bile Duct | 8/19/2020 | $250,000 |
| PR190279 | Mechanisms of Prevention of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH)–Mediated Lung Carcinogenesis by Omega-3 Fatty Acids | Academic Research | Moorthy, Bhagavatula | Baylor College of Medicine | Lung and Bronchus | 2/21/2019 | $899,151 |
| RP180530 | Hippo signaling in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and it progression to hepatocellular carcinoma | Academic Research | Johnson, Randy | The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center | Gallbladder, Liver and Intrahepatic Bile Duct | 2/21/2018 | $821,669 |
| RP160775 | Becoming fatter to survive: cancer cells increase lipid storage to counter metabolic stress | Academic Research | Du, Guangwei | The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston | All Sites | 5/18/2016 | $200,000 |
3. Florida: The Bankhead-Coley Cancer Research Program and the James and Esther King Biomedical Research Program are primary sources for cancer research funding in Florida.
4. New York: The New York State Department of Health offers various grant opportunities, including those for cancer research.
5. North Carolina: The University Cancer Research Fund (UCRF) supports cancer research in North Carolina.
6. Ohio: The Ohio Department of Health has had grant programs related to specific types of cancer research in the past.
7. Illinois: The Illinois Department of Public Health has had cancer research grant programs, focusing on specific cancer types.
8. Pennsylvania: The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, through its Department of Health, has offered grants for cancer research in the past.
9. Maryland: The state has supported cancer research through entities like the Maryland Cigarette Restitution Fund.
10. Minnesota: The state has the Minnesota Ovarian Cancer Alliance (MOCA) that offers research grants for ovarian cancer.