Research Networks

DCTD created and supports several extramural research networks that seek to advance precision medicine in oncology and cancer research in specific areas.

Precision Medicine

Five precision medicine oncology networks were funded in 2017 through the 21st Century Cures Act, each in a specific topic area. Additional resources for the NCI to support these initiatives permitted DCTD to make a concerted effort to provide further funding for the research community. Three successor research networks were funded in 2022 with two others expected to launch in 2023, keeping the total number of active networks at five.

• Mechanisms of cancer drug resistance and sensitivity
  DRSN — Drug Resistance and Sensitivity Network (2017)
  ARTNet — Acquired Resistance to Therapy Research Network (2022)
• Use of patient-derived models of cancer to select novel anticancer therapies for early phase clinical trials
  PDXNet — Patient-Derived Xenograft Development and Trial Centers Research Network (2017)
  PDXNet — Patient-Derived Xenograft Development and Trial Centers Research Network [RFA-CA-22-012 and RFA-CA-22-013] (2023)
• Development of cancer immunotherapy biomarkers
  CIMACs-CIDC — Cancer Immune Monitoring and Analysis Centers — Cancer Immunologic Data Commons Network (2017) and [RFA-CA-22-038] (2023)
• Understanding the microenvironment of pancreatic cancer to enhance immunotherapeutic options
  PaCMEN — Pancreatic Cancer Microenvironment Network (2017)
  PSRC — Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC) Stromal Reprogramming Consortium [RFA-CA-21-041 and RFA-CA-21-042] (2022)
• New cancer immunotherapy model systems
  PRECINCT — PRE-medical Cancer Immunotherapy Network Canine Trials (2017)
  PRECINCT — PRE-medical Cancer Immunotherapy Network Canine Trials (2022)

Areas of Unmet Need

• GTN — Glioblastoma Therapeutics Network (2022)
  Despite enormous public and private investments into basic, translational, and clinical research for adult glioblastoma (GBM), treatment has not changed in 15 years. The goal of the GTN is to improve the treatment of adult GBM by developing novel effective agents that can cross the blood-brain-barrier and testing them in the clinic.
• ROBIN — Radiation Oncology-Biology Integration Network (2022)
  Radiation therapy can dynamically induce molecular changes in tumors resulting in the presentation of potential therapeutic targets that are not seen at diagnosis. The goal of ROBIN is to learn more about this complex biology to develop better therapies for people with cancer.
• Can-ACT — Cancer Adoptive Cellular Therapy Network (2023)
  Through preclinical and translational studies, this network seeks to develop innovative cell therapy approaches to bring new cell therapy products into clinical trials for the treatment of solid tumors.
  [RFA-CA-22-028, RFA-CA-22-029, and RFA-CA-22-030]
• PIN — Pediatric Immunotherapy Network (2023)
  The goals of this network are to discover and validate novel pediatric cancer immunotherapeutic targets; develop new immunotherapy preclinical testing and treatment approaches; and improve understanding of pediatric specific anti-tumor immunity and pediatric immune evasion mechanisms to advance new, more effective immune-based therapeutic regimens for pediatric solid tumors.
  [RFA-CA-22-016]