For Researchers & Collaborators

The UVA Brain Metastases Research Collaborative was built on the conviction that brain metastases research has been underinvested relative to the scale of the clinical problem. We welcome investigators from other institutions who share that conviction. Whether you are exploring a potential collaboration, seeking access to shared resources, or considering a pilot project, this page provides an overview of our research infrastructure and how to engage with our team.

UVACCC’s designation as one of 57 NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers provides the institutional foundation for the BMETS-RC. That designation reflects demonstrated leadership in cancer research, including infrastructure for clinical trials, population science, shared research cores, and multidisciplinary coordination.

Our investigators maintain active collaborations with researchers at other NCI-designated cancer centers and have participated in multi-institutional studies on radiosurgery outcomes, care quality indicators, and patient-reported outcomes in brain metastases. We are open to new collaborations that align with our research priorities and can contribute complementary data, expertise, or patient populations.

The BMETS-RC Pilot Award supports early-stage research by UVA faculty focused on brain metastases across the full translational spectrum. Awards of up to $25,000 in direct costs are available for one-year projects, with the goal of catalyzing novel research that can address key gaps in the understanding, diagnosis, or treatment of brain metastases and position investigators for extramural funding. Early-stage investigators are strongly encouraged to apply, and cross-programmatic collaborations are especially welcome.

The inaugural 2025-2026 cycle of the pilot program supported three projects that reflect the breadth of the collaborative’s research agenda:

• Pilot Project 1: Mapping Supportive Care Trajectories in  Breast Cancer Patients with Brain Metastases to Inform Precision and Timely Care (Paula Sherwood)
• Pilot Project 2: Role and targeting of T-Type Calcium Channels in Brain Metastases (Roger Abounader)
• Pilot Project 3: Building the tools to make real change in BMET caregiver support (Wen You)

The RFA is released each June. Investigators interested in applying for the next cycle are encouraged to reach out in advance to discuss project alignment with the BMETS-RC’s priorities.

We welcome inquiries from investigators at other institutions who are interested in collaborative research, data sharing, or joining a multi-site study. Potential areas of collaboration include outcomes research and quality improvement, biomarker studies in tumor tissue or blood, clinical trials focused on patients with brain metastases, and patient-reported outcomes methodology.

To discuss a potential collaboration or learn more about the BMETS-RC’s current research priorities, please contact: Camilo Fadul, MD at cef3w@uvahealth.org and Roger Abounader, MD, PhD, at ra6u@virginia.edu.