Development of high parameter spatial transcriptomics and proteomics for the study of tumor microenvironments

/Abstract The technical and biologic expertise offered by Research Specialists provides a foundation of support that expedites the growth of research programs, shared resources, and cancer centers. Especially important in complex fields, such as the growing use of immunotherapeutics in personalized treatment of cancer, a comprehensive understanding of biologic responses requires cutting-edge technology and expertise that would be cost prohibitive to develop in individual laboratories. Monitoring immune responses in patients treated with immunotherapies is vital to understanding the mechanisms involved in these treatments and for the rational design of combinatorial clinical trials. This proposal demonstrates the need for support of the Research Specialist in the continued development of critical services provided by the Human Immune Monitoring Shared Resource (HIMSR), a University of Colorado Cancer Center (UCCC) Shared Resource at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. The Research Specialist collaborates with UCCC members to support cancer-related investigator-initiated clinical trials with a full-service approach, from sample processing, to optimization and implementation of high parameter correlative assays for liquid and tissue biopsies, to primary data analyses. Continued support of the Research Specialist with this NCI R50 funding mechanism will allow time for the implementation of new technologies for spatial proteomic and transcriptomic imaging for use in the study of tumor microenvironments, development of novel computational approaches and improvements to existing computational tools for primary image analyses, and continued advancement of existing imaging technology with customized multiplex panels. Dr. Jordan's expertise and training in immunology and human clinical studies is a vital component of the Unit Director's Cancer Center Support Grant, many research programs of UCCC members, and to the completion of projects under the Head and Neck SPORE (NCI P50). As evidenced by rapidly expanding publications and funding opportunities that stem from its advanced techniques, the HIMSR has become an integral part of many research programs on campus and will be a vital component of the future growth of immunotherapies at CUAMC. Project Number: 1R50CA293845-01A1 | Fiscal Year: 2025 | NIH Institute/Center: National Cancer Institute (NCI) | Principal Investigator: Kimberly Jordan | Institution: UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO DENVER, Aurora, CO | Award Amount: $584,510 | Activity Code: R50 | Study Section: Special Emphasis Panel[ZCA1 SRB-1 (M1)] View on NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/11223545