Prostate Cancer Spore Grant

Awarded: $12 million over 5 years — August 2001 – July 2006
Renewed Award: additional $11.2 million over 5 years — August 2006 – July 2011

Principal Investigator: Donald J. Tindall, Ph.D.

Co-Principal Investigator: Brian J. Davis, M.D., Ph.D.

Mayo Clinic Cancer Center is one of 11 cancer centers to receive a Specialized Program of Research Excellence (SPORE) grant for prostate cancer research. Prostate cancer is the most prevalent form of cancer and the second-leading cause of cancer death in American men today. By age 50, up to 1 in 4 men may have some cancerous cells in the prostate gland. By age 80, the ratio increases to 1 in 2. As men age, the risk of prostate cancer increases.

The intent of the Mayo SPORE grant for prostate cancer research is to implement a strong collaboration between basic scientists and clinicians at Mayo Clinic. This collaboration is designed to foster research that can be translated into improved detection, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of prostate cancer.

The Mayo Clinic Prostate Cancer SPORE relies on the close interactions and collaborations of the members of the departments of urology, biochemistry and molecular biology, immunology, pharmacology, laboratory medicine and pathology, oncology, and health sciences research; and consists of a multidisciplinary team of basic scientists, urologic surgeons, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, pathologists, diagnostic radiologists, medical geneticists and epidemiologists who are truly interested and devoted to the study of prostate cancer.

To enhance the understanding of prostate cancer biology and use this knowledge to translate laboratory findings into clinical application, the team works to coordinate interdependent, cooperative research projects within the Mayo Prostate Cancer SPORE that are mutually reinforcing and that collectively maximize the SPORE translational research objectives. Team members meet regularly to discuss research objectives and progress. In addition to these meetings we invite outside speakers for special seminars. In addition, all the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center SPORE Principal Investigators meet monthly to discuss ways in which the SPOREs can synergize with each other, and SPORE lectures on translational research are a regular offering in the Cancer Center.