Multidisciplinary approach to oral cancer etiology and treatment

Project Lead: Xian Jin Xie, College of Dentistry 

Funding Approved: Fiscal Year 21
Project Status: Completed  
Funded amount: $600,000   

The P3-to-P50 project laid the foundation for innovative and collaborative research at the University of Iowa that has the power to have a significant impact on health care through the prevention, detection, and treatment of oral cavity cancer. The project team used the P3 funds to compete for NCI/NIDCR (National Cancer Institute/National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research) funding that totals $11M.  

P3-to-P50 included the creation of multidisciplinary and high-impact research teams consisting of over 30 investigators from four University of Iowa colleges and Columbia University College of Dental Medicine. These teams included dental clinicians, medical oncologists, oral surgeons, pathologists, molecular and cell biologists, epidemiologists, biostatisticians, and experts in the development of new technologies and informatics.  

Activities from the project included: 

• Creation of a P50 DEI Council to ensure that diversity, equity, and inclusion was a key component of all P50 discussions.  
• Consolidation of the P50 application to 3 projects, 3 cores, 1 developmental program, 1 career enhancement program, and 1 patient advocate program.  
• Publication of five peer-reviewed articles
• The creation of a pilot clinical patient trial 
• The submission of multiple spin-off R01 applications for funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). 
• Submission of the University of Iowa Oral Cancer P50 proposal to the National Cancer Institute (NCI) in September 2022. 

Next Steps:

The significant progress made by the P3-to-P50 team during their P3 funding period will allow them to continue working toward their goals of achieving major breakthroughs in oral cavity cancer knowledge and eventually a decrease in the incidence, morbidity, and mortality of oral cavity cancer.

The team of investigators is preparing to submit a revised P50 application in February of 2024. Additional spin-off R01 applications are planned for the coming months, providing additional opportunities for the P3-to-P50 to secure funding and position the University of Iowa as a national leader in oral cancer etiology and treatment.