Biology of Bladder Cancer (R21 Clinical Trial Optional)

 This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) seeks applications investigating the biology and underlying mechanisms of bladder cancer. Bladder cancer is a significant health problem both in the United States and globally. Because of the high incidence and frequent tumor recurrence, bladder cancer exacts an outsized medical burden. While recent progress has been made in the molecular profiling of bladder cancers and identification of mutated genes, relatively little is known regarding the molecular mechanisms driving initiation, progression, and malignancy of bladder cancer. Furthermore, our understanding of biological processes of the normal bladder at the molecular, cell and organ levels is limited. Fundamental knowledge of how molecular and cellular functions of the bladder are altered in cancer will aid our understanding of bladder cancer biology and interventions. Applications that involve multidisciplinary teams and use clinical specimens or investigate both normal and cancer processes are encouraged.