Congratulations to Center for Precision Medicine Member Faculty and UW Carbone researcher Dr. Alexander Birbrair, who recently received a National Cancer Institute (NCI) Method to Extend Research in Time (MERIT) R37 award based on the strength of his research proposal to study how the nervous system influences melanoma progression.  
 
A MERIT award is not one researchers can directly apply for: NIH program staff and advisory councils nominate investigators for this award based on an exceptionally highly-scored standard grant application. Receiving a MERIT award is a prestigious sign of recognition among peers. 
 
Melanoma is the most lethal form of skin cancer due to its tendency to metastasize to other parts of the body. Birbrair’s research seeks to understand how signals from nerves inside melanoma tumors affect the cancer’s progression and the spread to other parts of the body. They are particularly interested in a specific receptor, called PAC1, which mediates this communication. Birbrair’s group will reveal how exactly this process works in order to develop new treatment approaches. 
 
“Novel molecular targets are urgently needed to develop more effective treatments,” Birbrair says. “Obtaining a better understanding of the interplay between the nervous system and cells within the tumor microenvironment will identify potential new targets for therapeutic intervention.”  
 
The MERIT award provides about $2.5 million to his research over the next five years, with the potential for another two year extension based on the results of the initial research. Birbrair’s team is collaborating with fellow UW researchers Drs. Nihal Ahmad, Paul Sondel, Vincent Ma, Justin Wolter, Sean McIlwain, Philippos Tsourkas and Kevin Eliceiri.