Cancer Immunoprevention Network (CIP-Net)
A dendritic cell (blue) showing T cells (red) what antigens to look for. This helps T cells find cancer cells and infected cells.
An emerging scientific opportunity is the development of approaches that leverage the immune system to prevent cancers. Further, an NCI Board of Scientifc Advisors (BSA) Ad Hoc Working Group encouraged fostering “novel and innovative research designs….to expedite progress in precision prevention.”
The Cancer Immunoprevention Network (CIP-Net), supported by DCB and the NCI Division of Cancer Prevention, aims to support a deeper understanding of basic mechanisms of immunoprevention, to promote the discovery of novel immunoprevention strategies, and to foster a community of cancer immunoprevention researchers.
Additional details about the network can be found on NCI Division of Cancer Prevention webpages about CIP-Net.
CIP-Net Funding Opportunities
- RFA-CA-24-036: Cancer Immunoprevention Network (CIP-Net) Resource Coordinating Center (U24 Clinical Trials Not Allowed)
- PHS 2025-1 SBIR Contract Solicitation: NIH/NCI 467 - Development of Cancer Immunoprevention Agents
CIP-Net News
New UG3/UH3 grants for CIP-Net were awarded in Summer 2024.
Drs. Madhav Dhodapkar, Richard Flavell, and Noah Palm with the Emory University CIP-Net Project are investigating and targeting microbial triggers of monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (a precursor state to multiple myeloma) for immunoprevention.
The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai CIP-Net Project, led by Drs. Nina Bhardwaj, Aimee Lucas, and Robert Samstein, is examining immune determinants modulating cancer development in Lynch syndrome (an inherited disorder that increases the risk for cancer) to inform the design of cancer prevention/interception strategies.
Dr. Shadmehr Demehri with the Massachusetts General Hospital CIP-Net Project is studying mechanisms that regulate immunosurveillance in BRCA mutant breast glands and developing strategies for breast cancer immunoprevention.
The University of Missouri-Columbia CIP-Net Project, led by Drs. Haval Shirwan and Esma Yolcu, is developing and testing a new immune activating agent for cancer prevention in preclinical models.
DCB Contact for CIP-Net
For additional information about CIP-Net, please contact Dr. Lillian Kuo.
Funded Projects
| Institution | Principal Investigator(s) | Center Title |
|---|---|---|
| Emory University | Madhav V. Dhodapkar, Richard A. Flavell, Noah. W. Palm | Targeting microbial triggers of gammopathy for immunoprevention |
| Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai | Nina Bhardwaj, Aimee L. Lucas, Robert M. Samstein | Immune determinants modulating cancer development in Lynch Syndrome |
| Massachusetts General Hospital | Shadmehr Demehri | Immunosurveillance of breast glands with oncogenic germline mutations |
| University of Missouri-Columbia | Haval Shirwan, Esma S. Yolcu | Developing a novel agonist of CD137 for cancer immunoprevention |