Jashodeep Datta Named Principal Investigator for $2.5M NCI R37 MERIT Grant

Innovative Research on Pancreatic Cancer Treatment

Researchers at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, led by physician-scientist Dr. Jashodeep Datta, are set to explore a new treatment approach for pancreatic cancer, one of the deadliest tumor types, with the support of a $2.5 million NCI R37 MERIT grant. This funding will support a project investigating the tumor microenvironment in pancreatic cancer, which plays a significant role in the resistance to treatments that combine chemotherapy and immunotherapy.

Dr. Datta and his team aim to study the effects of disrupting this environment using an experimental drug, potentially paving the way for a clinical trial at Sylvester, South Florida’s only NCI-designated cancer center.

About Award

The Method to Extend Research in Time (MERIT) (R37) Award provides long-term grant support to Early Stage Investigators (ESIs), starting with new, competing awards issued in FY 2018. Eligible investigators can receive up to seven years of support in two segments: an initial award of up to five years, followed by an opportunity for a two-year extension based on an expedited NCI review of accomplishments during the initial funding period.

Investigators cannot apply directly for an ESI MERIT Award. However, ESI R01 applications that score within the NCI payline for both experienced and new investigators may be considered for conversion to an ESI MERIT Award if all principal investigators have ESI status at the time of the award.

About Jashodeep Datta

Dr. Datta serves as the DiMare Family Endowed Chair in Immunotherapy, Associate Professor of Surgery, and a hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgical oncologist at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center.

He is also the Associate Director of Translational Research at the Sylvester Pancreatic Cancer Research Institute and a surgeon-scientist focusing on myeloid immunobiology within the pancreatic cancer microenvironment. Additionally, he co-leads the Gastrointestinal Site Disease Group at Sylvester, where he enhances the portfolio of investigator-initiated clinical trials in gastrointestinal cancers.

Dr. Datta joined the faculty at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine in 2019. He graduated Summa Cum Laude from Colgate University and earned his MD from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, where he was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha National Honor Society.

He completed his General Surgery residency at the University of Pennsylvania, where he also undertook a post-doctoral research fellowship in cancer immunology. His training continued with a fellowship in Complex General Surgical Oncology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, where he specialized in the surgical management of hepatobiliary, pancreatic, and gastric cancers and gained expertise in computational immunogenomics.

Since establishing his lab at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Dr. Datta’s research has attracted significant funding from various prestigious organizations, including the Miami Clinical and Translational Science Institute, NIH KL2 award, Stanley Glaser Foundation, and several others. His work aims to bridge the gap between cutting-edge research and clinical practice, ultimately improving outcomes for patients with pancreatic cancer.

Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center:

“Join us in congratulating Dr. Jashodeep Datta for being named the principal investigator on a new $2.5M National Cancer Institute (NCI) R37 MERIT grant.

This grant will enable Dr. Datta and his colleagues to explore new approaches to treating one of the deadliest cancers—pancreatic cancer. By studying the complex network of molecular and cellular interactions that create a nearly impenetrable barrier, they aim to develop innovative strategies to overcome pancreatic cancer’s resistance to conventional treatments.

‘This is a highly prestigious research grant and a true testament to the remarkable innovation and productivity Dr. Datta has demonstrated in his short time as a faculty member,’ said Dr. Nipun Merchant, chief of the Division of Surgical Oncology and director of the Sylvester Pancreatic Cancer Research Institute. Learn about the potential impact of this research.”

Jashodeep Datta:

“Overjoyed that our R01 is converted to a prestigious the NCI R37 MERIT award, allowing us 7 (vs 5) years of funding! All thanks to my village: Datta Lab, esp Anna Bianchi (sciencing with me from day 1); family; mentors/sponsors; collaborators; and Sylvester Comrehensive Cancer Center, UM/JMH General Surgery support.”

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