NCI Organizational Structure
Within the National Cancer Institute organizational structure, the Translational Research Program (TRP) is in the Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis (DCTD).
TRP Portfolio
SPOREs- Specialized Programs of Research Excellence
TRP is the home of the SPOREs — the Specialized Programs of Research Excellence - a cornerstone of NCI's efforts to promote collaborative, interdisciplinary translational cancer research. SPORE grants involve both basic and clinical/applied scientists working together and support projects that will result in new and diverse approaches to the prevention, early detection, diagnosis, and treatment of human cancers.
Each SPORE is focused on a specific organ site, a group of highly related cancers, or a common pathway or theme that ties together the cancers under study. SPOREs are designed to enable the rapid and efficient movement of basic scientific findings into clinical settings, as well as to determine the biological basis for observations made in individuals with cancer or in populations at risk for cancer. SPOREs are required to reach a human endpoint within the 5-year funding period. Currently, 21 organ sites, systems, and pathway-specific themes are represented in the SPORE portfolio, including: brain, breast, cancer health disparities, cervical, endometrial, epigenetics, gastrointestinal, head and neck, hyperactive RAS, liver, kidney, leukemia, lung, lymphoma, myeloma, ovarian, pancreatic, prostate, radiation sensitivity, sarcoma, and skin.
The objective for all SPOREs is to reduce cancer incidence and mortality and to improve survival and quality of life for cancer patients. SPOREs encourage the advice of patient advocates in SPORE activities. Prospective applicants are encouraged to contact TRP Program Officials for advice prior to submission.
TRP is also involved in the following DCTD Activities:
- Small Cell Lung Cancer Consortium (SCLC-C)
- Pancreatic Stromal Reprogramming Consortium (PSRC)
- Glioblastoma Therapeutics Network (GTN)
- The Integrated Canine Data Commons
- Longitudinal Studies in Dogs with Cancer as a Comparative Oncology Model