Developmental Research Program (DRP)
The Developmental Research Program (DRP) supports new and innovative approaches to study prostate cancer with the aim of improving overall survival and quality of life for those affected by the disease. We envision that “high-risk, high-reward” developmental pilot projects funded by this program will continue to impact prostate cancer care by maturing into full projects that can eventually be integrated into the primary translational research work of the Wisconsin Prostate SPORE, or successfully compete for other investigator-initiated extramural funding opportunities. Developmental projects can include interdisciplinary research focused on basic science, prevention, early detection, treatment, of prognostic and predictive biomarkers, and/or survivorship.
The DRP may support up to four awardees in any given year. Awardees receive $50,000 per year (for up to two years) to support their proposed research projects. The DRP will solicit, advise, review, select, and monitor DRP projects to ensure that DRP resources are effectively used.
Leadership
Program Co-Director
Program Co-Director
UW Prostate SPORE DRP Awardees
Sheena Kerr, PhD
Project Title: Defining immune interactions that enable iNKT anti-tumor activity against prostate cancer in bone microenvironments
Jacques Galipeau, MD
Project Title: Development of RNA engineered prostate cancer TILs for use as cellular immunotherapy
Ichwaku Rastogi, PhD
Project Title: Tumor microenvironment analysis of prostate cancer patients before and after treatment with DNA vaccine(s) and checkpoint blockade therapy
William Ricke, PhD
Project Title: Molecular mechanisms and therapeutic targeting of DDX3X in castration resistance
Reinier Hernandez, PhD
Project Title: Novel Thorium-227 agents for targeted alpha therapy of advanced prostate cancer
Project Title: Targeting Radiopharmaceutical Therapy-Induced Senescence to Improve Response in Prostate Cancer
David Jarrard, MD
Project Title: Targeting NSD2 in advanced prostate cancer
Diego Hernando, MD
Project Title: Novel Thorium-227 agents for targeted alpha therapy of advanced prostate cancer
Weiping Tang, PhD
Project Title: Development of Novel Tumor-selective and BRD4-specific Degraders for the Treatment of Prostate Cancer
Project Title: Development of Radiation-Activatable Tumor-Selective BRD4 Degraders for the Treatment of Prostate Cancer
Lingjun Li, PhD
Project Title: Understanding AR-ARSI interactions in the treatment of castration-resistant prostate cancer – Proteomic investigation of crystal engineered ligands for the androgen receptor
Nihal Ahmad, PhD
Project Title: Targeting PLK4 Driven Mitotic Vulnerabilities in Neuroendocrine Prostate Cancer
Weiping Tang, PhD
Project Title: Development of Novel Tumor-selective and BRD4-specific Degraders for the Treatment of Prostate Cancer