Brain Tumor SPORE

NCI Specialized Program of Research Excellence

The Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University has received a renewed $10.8 million Specialized Program of Research Excellence (SPORE) grant from the National Cancer Institute for the Lurie Cancer Center to advance translational research and improve outcomes for patients with brain cancer.

The Lurie Cancer Center Brain Tumor SPORE, established in 2018, is led by Maciej Lesniak, MD, chair and the Michael J. Marchese Professor of Neurosurgery, with projects led by members of the Department of Neurosurgery and the Ken and Ruth Davee Department of Neurology.

The SPORE focuses on improving treatment strategies for highly malignant brain tumors, with an emphasis on developing novel approaches for patients with glioblastoma, the most common and aggressive type of primary brain tumor.

The SPORE is one of just six brain tumor programs nationwide to receive the designation and recognizes Northwestern as a premier institution for innovative, translational research. The NCI’s SPORE grants fund interdisciplinary, collaborative research projects in specific cancer types and are intended to rapidly move research discoveries from the laboratory into the clinic.

The SPORE is comprised of four key research projects, co-led by investigators with complementary expertise. The SPORE also includes an Administrative Core, a Nervous System Tumor Bank, and a Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Core. A developmental research program will enable future translational research, and a career enhancement program will provide funding for early-stage investigators interested in entering the field of neuro-oncology.