Announcing $300,000 in Seed Grants to Fund Novel Research Studies

Dr. Guda's research project is centered on understanding the causes and development of aggressive types of gastric cancer, which are known to be challenging to treat effectively and have low survival rates. The primary focus of this research is to investigate a potential treatment strategy that targets a signaling protein in the body called transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β).

“In past research on esophageal cancer, we have found that targeting this molecule tends to be effective in specific tumor contexts,” Dr. Guda explains. For this reason, Dr. Guda is exploring the therapeutic potential of vactoserib, a drug that inhibits TGF-β activity in esophageal cancer patients.

“Our idea is to test whether TGF-β is similarly active in gastric cancers and whether blocking this molecule could be an effective therapeutic strategy,” Dr. Guda said. Specifically, his research delves into the crucial role of a protein called HNF4A in predicting treatment response. His previous research showed that the presence of HNF4A in tumors predicted their sensitivity to vactoserib treatment. He hopes his research will shed light on the potential of HNF4A as a biomarker that could be used to predict which patients are most likely to respond to TGF-β targeted therapy. Read more about Dr. Guda's research here.

A $100,000 seed grant was also awarded to Dr. Ryan Moy, Assistant Professor of Medicine and medical oncologist at Columbia University’s Irving Medical Center where he specializes in the treatment of gastrointestinal malignancies, with a focus on esophageal and stomach cancers.

Researchers across the globe are making new discoveries in understanding gastric cancer:

A research team in China correlated high levels of a protein called SMC1A with poor overall survival in gastric cancer, concluding that the protein contributes to gastric cancer cell proliferation, migration and invasiveness.

A phase 3 trial published in the journal Gastric Cancer concluded that S-1 plus docetaxel is superior to S-1 alone in stage 3 gastric cancer patients post-surgery.

Researchers have identified a potential mechanistic link between H. Pylori and gastric cancer, deepening our understanding of how this infection may contribute to development of the disease.