{"id":133117,"date":"2025-02-20T10:55:23","date_gmt":"2025-02-20T10:55:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/touchoncology.com\/?post_type=insight&#038;p=133117"},"modified":"2025-03-14T13:27:55","modified_gmt":"2025-03-14T13:27:55","slug":"project-cure-crc-ignites-innovation-in-2025-with-10-5-million-in-research-k-spy-debut-renewed-rfp","status":"publish","type":"insight","link":"https:\/\/touchoncology.com\/insight\/project-cure-crc-ignites-innovation-in-2025-with-10-5-million-in-research-k-spy-debut-renewed-rfp\/","title":{"rendered":"Project Cure CRC ignites innovation in 2025 with $10.5 million in research, K-SPY debut &amp; renewed RFP"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"The End of Colorectal Cancer Starts with Project Cure CRC\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Cd77dEeZfrc?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-133152 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/touchoncology.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-02-18-191928-1-300x106.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"106\" srcset=\"https:\/\/touchoncology.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-02-18-191928-1-300x106.jpg 300w, https:\/\/touchoncology.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-02-18-191928-1-50x18.jpg 50w, https:\/\/touchoncology.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-02-18-191928-1.jpg 577w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>As the leading nonprofit organization dedicated to ending the disease, the Colorectal Cancer Alliance (Alliance) continues to break boundaries in colorectal cancer care. Its <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/colorectalcancer.org\/research\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>Project Cure CRC<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> research initiative awarded new grants, convened top scientists to spark breakthrough advancements at its Cure CRC Summit, and unveiled K-SPY, a groundbreaking multi-center platform trial for high-risk colorectal cancer cases. Since its launch, Project Cure CRC has received 275 proposals, of which 22 have been approved totaling $10.5 million in awards. The latest awards reflect $2.8 million of the overall funding for urgently needed innovations. With significantly more funds available, the Alliance issues a renewed <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/colorectalcancer.org\/research\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>Project Cure CRC Request for Proposals<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> from researchers with cutting-edge colorectal cancer studies.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Colorectal cancer is the second deadliest cancer in the nation, yet it is grossly underfunded, causing a tremendous gap in the development of new treatments and therapies. Project Cure CRC is committed to filling that gap and improving outcomes for the millions of people affected by this disease.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>New Research Grants from Project Cure CRC\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Recipients of the most recent Project Cure CRC grants include the following investigators focusing on various topics in colorectal cancer:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Angelique Whitehurst, Ph.D., The University of Texas Southwestern &#8211; <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">TSSK6 is a Precision Target in CRC ($200,000)<\/span><\/i><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Melissa Fishel, Ph.D., Indiana University &#8211;<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Ref-1 Redox Signaling as a Target in CRC ($200,000)<\/span><\/i><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wenhan Zhu, Ph.D., Vanderbilt University Medical Center &#8211; <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Carcinogenic Microbe Rewires Colonocyte Metabolism to Drive CRC Development ($200,000)<\/span><\/i><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hyunyoung Jeong, Pharm.D., Ph.D., Purdue University &#8211; <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tryptophanase in Fusobacterium Nucleatum-Mediated CRC Progression and Therapy Resistance ($200,000)<\/span><\/i><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Boyi Gan, Ph.D., The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center &#8211; <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Targeting Ferroptosis as a Vulnerability in BRCA1-deficient CRC ($1.1 million)<\/span><\/i><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Binfeng Lu, Ph.D., Hackensack Meridian Health Center for Discovery and Innovation &#8211; <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Define the Tumor Microenvironment in mCRC with Peritoneal Metastasis and Evaluating Innovative Immunotherapy Strategies for its Treatment ($200,000)<\/span><\/i><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nilofer Azad, M.D., Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at John Hopkins &#8211; <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">KRAS-vaccination with Next-Gen Immune Checkpoint Inhibition in First -line Maintenance, MSS mCRC ($290,000)<\/span><\/i><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Christopher Lengner, Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania &#8211; <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Targeting Tumor Stroma in CRC to Overcome Resistance to Immunotherapy ($210,000)<\/span><\/i><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Khosrow Rezvani, Ph.D., University of South Dakota, <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nanoparticle-Based Targeted Delivery and Release of Veratridine: A Novel Strategy for Suppressing mTORC2 Signaling Pathway and Mitochondrial Metabolism in CRC ($200,000)<\/span><\/i><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-133172 size-medium alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/touchoncology.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-02-18-192845-300x204.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"204\" srcset=\"https:\/\/touchoncology.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-02-18-192845-300x204.jpg 300w, https:\/\/touchoncology.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-02-18-192845-1024x697.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/touchoncology.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-02-18-192845-768x523.jpg 768w, https:\/\/touchoncology.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-02-18-192845-800x544.jpg 800w, https:\/\/touchoncology.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-02-18-192845-50x34.jpg 50w, https:\/\/touchoncology.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-02-18-192845.jpg 1139w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/b><b><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b>Alliance Debuts K-SPY at Cure CRC Summit<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Last December, the Alliance brought together 150 leading experts in colorectal cancer research at its second annual international Cure CRC Summit. The meeting sparked innovation, promoted collaboration, and introduced cutting-edge strategies to advance research and enhance patient care. During the summit, the Alliance and CRC leaders strategized and planned the launch of K-SPY, an adaptive clinical trial platform aimed at transforming colorectal cancer care through personalized treatments, faster access to therapies, and improved outcomes. K-SPY tests multiple therapies simultaneously, using real time data and a statistical approach to refine treatments dynamically. The platform aims to increase the five-year survival rate of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) from 13% to 35%, a primary goal of the Alliance.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-133167 size-medium alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/touchoncology.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/02\/michael-cure-1-300x200.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/touchoncology.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/02\/michael-cure-1-300x200.png 300w, https:\/\/touchoncology.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/02\/michael-cure-1-1024x683.png 1024w, https:\/\/touchoncology.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/02\/michael-cure-1-768x512.png 768w, https:\/\/touchoncology.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/02\/michael-cure-1-1536x1024.png 1536w, https:\/\/touchoncology.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/02\/michael-cure-1-800x533.png 800w, https:\/\/touchoncology.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/02\/michael-cure-1-50x33.png 50w, https:\/\/touchoncology.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/02\/michael-cure-1.png 1893w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/b><b><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><b>Renewed Request for Proposals<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Based on input from the Cure CRC Summit, the Alliance renewed the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/colorectalcancer.org\/research\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>Project Cure CRC Request for Proposals<\/b><\/a><b>. <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Researchers are<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">encouraged to submit novel innovative ideas for CRC research with curative intent and special attention given to immunotherapy-based studies and research focused on BRCA1, BRAF, TP53, TME, and associated pathway genes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Alliance, the largest nonprofit organization dedicated to ending colorectal cancer, invites the public, corporations, foundations, and philanthropic individuals to join our mission by contributing to Project Cure CRC. For more information on Project Cure CRC, to donate, or to submit a research proposal, please visit <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/colorectalcancer.org\/research\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>colorectalcancer.org\/research<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Disclosure:<\/strong> This short article was provided by the <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Colorectal Cancer Alliance (Alliance)<\/span>. No funding or publication fees were involved in the publication of this article.<\/p>\n<h1><strong>SIGN UP to touchONCOLOGY!<\/strong><\/h1>\n<p>Join our global community today for access to thousands of peer-reviewed articles, expert insights, and learn-on-the-go education across 150+ specialties, plus concise email updates and newsletters so you never miss out.<\/p>\n<h3><a href=\"https:\/\/touchoncology.com\/your-free-10-minutes-at-a-time-medical-education\/\">Click here to REGISTER NOW &gt;&gt;&gt;<\/a><\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-131822\" src=\"https:\/\/touchoncology.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/02\/touchONCO.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https:\/\/touchoncology.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/02\/touchONCO.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/touchoncology.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/02\/touchONCO-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/touchoncology.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/02\/touchONCO-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/touchoncology.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/02\/touchONCO-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/touchoncology.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/02\/touchONCO-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/touchoncology.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/02\/touchONCO-800x450.jpg 800w, https:\/\/touchoncology.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/02\/touchONCO-50x28.jpg 50w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp; As the leading nonprofit organization dedicated to ending the disease, the Colorectal Cancer Alliance (Alliance) continues to break boundaries in colorectal cancer care. Its Project Cure CRC research initiative awarded new grants, convened top scientists to spark breakthrough advancements at its Cure CRC Summit, and unveiled K-SPY, a groundbreaking multi-center platform trial for high-risk [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":133152,"template":"","class_list":["post-133117","insight","type-insight","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","vocabulary_1-colorectal-cancer","vocabulary_1-gastrointestinal-cancers"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/touchoncology.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/insight\/133117"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/touchoncology.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/insight"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/touchoncology.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/insight"}],"version-history":[{"count":18,"href":"https:\/\/touchoncology.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/insight\/133117\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":136912,"href":"https:\/\/touchoncology.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/insight\/133117\/revisions\/136912"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/touchoncology.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/133152"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/touchoncology.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=133117"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}