Cancer Moonshot Scholars

The Cancer Moonshot Scholars program is designed to advance cancer science while also diversifying the pool of researchers and the approaches to cancer research that NCI funds. The program seeks to diversify the NCI R01 portfolio by enhancing the number of applications submitted by Early Stage Investigators from diverse backgrounds, including those from groups identified as underrepresented (NOT-OD-20-031) in the biomedical, clinical, behavioral, and social sciences research workforce. In addition, the program seeks to increase the diversity of thought and approach to cancer research. Individuals from underrepresented groups are especially encouraged to work with their respective institutions to apply.

This program is supported by the White House's Cancer Moonshot initiative and aligns with NCI’s Equity and Inclusion Program and NIH’s UNITE Initiative. The Center to Reduce Cancer Health Disparities (CRCHD) leads the Cancer Moonshot Scholars program, with active participation from a trans-NCI steering committee. NCI divisions that have subject matter expertise manage the individual grant awards.

NCI intends to fund up to 15 additional Cancer Moonshot Scholars.

Funding Opportunities

Funding Opportunity

Purpose

RFA-CA-22-050 (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)

The Cancer Moonshot Scholars program solicits R01 grant applications that propose independent research projects within the scientific mission of the National Cancer Institute (NCI). The program seeks to diversify the NCI R01 portfolio by enhancing the number of applications submitted by Early Stage Investigators from diverse backgrounds, including those from groups identified as underrepresented (NOT-OD-20-031) in the biomedical, clinical, behavioral, and social sciences research workforce. Notice of Correction to RFA-CA-22-050 Published April 21, 2023

Scholars and Research Projects 

Second Cohort

Scholar	Research Project
Hermioni Amonoo, MD, MPP, Brigham and Women’s Hospital	Positive Psychology Intervention for Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Survivors
Ramon Francisco Barajas, MD, Oregon Health & Science University	Leveraging Biologically Specific PET/MRI Monitoring and Therapeutic Modulation of the Hypoxic Glioblastoma Tumor Immune Microenvironment into Improved Outcomes
Miriam Bornhorst, MD,* Hayk Barseghyan, PhD, Lurie's Children's Hospital of Chicago	Optical Genome Mapping As a Novel Diagnostic Approach in Pediatric Brain Tumors
Loretta Erhunmwunsee, MD, City of Hope	Examining the Impact of Structural Racism on African American Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Mutational Signatures and Outcomes
Neha Goel, MD, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center	Social Genomic Mechanisms Linking Structural Racism, Perceived Discrimination, and Breast Cancer Survival
Dennis Jones, PhD, Boston University	Improving anti-tumor immunity in advanced breast cancer by targeting solid stress
Richard Phillips, MD, University of Pennsylvania	Deciphering mechanisms of transcriptional repression which drive midline glioma
Laura C. Pinheiro, PhD, Weill Medical College of Cornell University	Structural Racism and Cardiovascular Outcomes Among Cancer Survivors
Chelsey Schlechter, PhD, MPH,* Guilherme Del Fiol, MD, PhD, and David W. Wetter, PhD, MS, Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah	Partnerships to Reduce Obesity in Community Health Center Patients
Kandy Velazquez, PhD, University of South Carolina at Columbia	The Role of TGFβ2 and Macrophages in Cancer Cachexia
Haijiao Zhang, MD, Oregon Health & Science University	Characterization of NUP205 as a haploinsufficient essential gene for the treatment of hematopoietic malignancies

*The Cancer Moonshot Scholar on the Multiple Principal Investigator Team.

First Cohort 

Scholar	Research Project
Todd Aguilera, MD, PhD, UT Southwestern Medical Center	Early response to radiotherapy and immunotherapy in rectal cancer: an integrated molecular, cellular and spatial approach
Nduka Amankulor, MD, University of Pennsylvania	Interrogating Mechanisms of Anti-tumor Immunity in Human Subjects and Murine Models of IDH-Mutant Glioma Treated with All-Trans Retinoic Acid and PD1 Inhibition
Hien Dang, PhD, Thomas Jefferson University	Deciphering the role of NELFE in modulating MYC signaling in HCC
Marvin Langston, PhD, MPH, Stanford University	Tailored prostate cancer screening: addressing USPSTF priority research gaps in a racially-diverse study population
Laurie McLouth, PhD, University of Kentucky	Pathways, a Hope-Based Intervention to Support Personal Goal Pursuit, Mental Health, and Quality of Life during Advanced Lung Cancer Treatment
Jyothi Menon, PhD, University of Rhode Island	Multifunctional Nanoparticle Platform to Prevent Alcohol-Associated HCC Development
Leeya Pinder, MD, MPH, FACOG, University of Cincinnati	RepurPosed AntiretrOviraL ThErapieS to EliminAte Cervical Cancer (POLESA Trial)
Simpa Salami, MD, MPH, University of Michigan	Defining the Biological Arc of Grade Group 1 Prostate Cancer
Mario Shields, PhD, Northwestern University at Chicago	Elucidating the mechanism of Ga13 mediated tumor suppression in pancreatic cancer
Matthew A. Triplette, MD, PhD, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center	Evaluating Centralizing Interventions to Address Low Adherence to Lung Cancer Screening Follow-up in Decentralized Settings
Jelani C. Zarif, PhD, MS, Johns Hopkins University	Therapeutic targeting of CD206+ TAMs to enhance adaptive and innate anti-tumor immune responses in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer