Administrative Core

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT – ADMINISTRATIVE CORE The Administrative Core of the Nigerian Immuno-Oncology Research (NOLA) program will provide centralized scientific leadership, expert organizational and administrative management, and systematic support for the research and capacity-building activities of the program. The core will be led by 3 PIs with complementary expertise in immuno-oncology and global cancer initiatives, who will share overall decision-making authority. The core will drive the priorities of the P20 by 1. assembling a multi-disciplinary team focused on integrated research in immuno-oncology and differences in cancer outcomes between Nigerian and U.S. patients; 2. developing the infrastructure to execute immuno-oncology/cancer research; and 3. building capacity in Nigeria for future immuno-oncology research. Through these efforts, the Core will play an essential role in creating a strong foundation for immuno-oncology research beyond the P20 project period. The Administrative Core will leverage our extensive experience in coordinating multi-institutional research studies and building research capacity in Nigeria to foster engagement and productive collaboration, organize NOLA communications and presentations, oversee program evaluation, support data management and sharing, and coordinate mentorship. The NOLA program’s Nigerian hub will be Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife, Nigeria, the core site for the African Research Group for Oncology (ARGO) consortium. ARGO was founded in 2013 and is now at the center of multiple NIH/NCI grants and training initiatives, with 26 affiliated Nigerian institutions. Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK) serves as the central coordinating institution for the NOLA program, providing scientific leadership, regulatory oversight, and operational management. It supports cross-site communications, milestone tracking, and capacity building through mentorship and short-term training for Nigerian investigators. MSK leverages its extensive experience in managing NIH-funded global oncology collaborations to ensure the program’s success and sustainability. By building integrated research infrastructure and generating high-quality data from a previously uncharacterized population, the Administrative Core will not only strengthen cancer research capacity in Nigeria but also enhance the scientific relevance of U.S.-based immuno-oncology initiatives. This platform will support future collaborative studies that deepen our understanding of tumor immunobiology across ancestries, inform biomarker development, and ultimately expand the impact and applicability of immunotherapy approaches for heterogeneous populations in the United States and globally.