Chicago Grant Funds Lymphoma-to-Brain Research
North Park University's first NIH award will fund a four-year study of how lymphoma cells reach the brain.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Cancer
North Park University received its first-ever grant from the National Institutes of Health, a $650,108 Support for Research Excellence award issued by the National Cancer Institute on September 17, 2026. Assistant professor of biology Dr. Tracy O'Connor will lead a four-year project studying how lymphoma spreads to the brain.
Why it matters
The project examines how lymphoma cells reach the nervous system, a pathway that matters for patients because spread to the brain complicates treatment. The grant is aimed at institutions that have historically received limited NIH research funding, so it reflects broader efforts to build research capacity beyond large research universities.
This is an early-stage, funded research project rather than a completed study, so no outcomes or effect sizes have been reported yet. The award supports a four-year investigation into the biological mechanisms of lymphoma spread to the brain.
The players
National Institutes of Health
The NIH is the U.S. federal agency that funds biomedical research, including cancer studies conducted through its National Cancer Institute.
National Cancer Institute
The National Cancer Institute is the NIH division that leads federal cancer research and issued this award.
North Park University
North Park University is a Chicago private university that received its first NIH grant with this award.
Dr. Tracy O'Connor
Dr. Tracy O'Connor is an assistant professor of biology at North Park University who will lead the lymphoma research project.
The details
The project looks at how lymphoma cells use chemokine networks and signaling pathways to reach the brain. Chemokines are signaling molecules that guide cells to move through the body, and understanding how cancer cells exploit these routes could reveal points where spread might be blocked. The research is designed to clarify the cellular steps that allow lymphoma to enter the nervous system.
Timeline
September 17, 2026: North Park University is awarded its first-ever NIH grant.
September 24, 2026: The lymphoma-to-brain research project begins.
August 31, 2030: The four-year project is scheduled to end.
Health Landscape
The SuRE program directs NIH research dollars toward institutions outside the traditional high-funding research universities, broadening the base of cancer research. Lymphoma spread to the central nervous system is a recognized clinical challenge, and studies of its cellular pathways feed the ongoing effort to find ways to prevent it.
This research is at an early stage, so it does not change current screening or treatment recommendations. If you have a lymphoma diagnosis or questions about how the disease can spread, those conversations are best held with your oncology care team.
The takeaway
Federal research funding is reaching more universities, and studies of how lymphoma enters the brain could eventually inform prevention. Anyone with questions about lymphoma or its risks should discuss them with a physician.
Further reading
For broader context on how these cancers are studied and treated, explore our Cancer coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Manila times.
