Developing a Program Plan for a Head and Neck Oncology Specialized Program of Research Excellence (SPORE) at UNC LCCC

<p class="p1">Head and neck cancers (HNC) are the seventh most common group of cancers in the world, accounting for 4% of cancers in the United States (U.S.)(Siegel et al., 2026). Approximately 67,000 new cases of head and neck cancer (oral cavity and pharynx) are expected to be diagnosed in the United States, with an estimated 15,400 deaths attributed to these malignancies in the same year (Siegel et al., 2026). Within North Carolina, it is projected that around 7,800 new cases of HNC will be diagnosed, with the potential for 2,200 associated deaths due to the disease, underscoring the critical need for specialized programs to facilitate research aimed at improving early detection, treatment, and prevention efforts, ultimately aiming to reduce mortality rates associated with these cancers (An et al., 2025). <p class="p1">A Specialized Program of Research Excellence (SPORE) is a highly collaborative, multidisciplinary, and translational research program focused on a specific cancer type or theme, funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) (NIH, 2025). Currently, there are only four HNC SPORES (NIH, 2025). The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center is uniquely positioned to establish such a program, leveraging its existing multidisciplinary expertise and robust infrastructure in cancer research and patient care. <p class="p1">This paper briefly reviews the burden of HNC currently in the United States and North Carolina. Its findings outline the importance of developing a comprehensive program plan for a Head and Neck Oncology Specialized Program of Research Excellence at UNC Lineberger. Establishing this program at UNC LCCC is particularly critical given the disproportionate burden of head and neck cancer in the Southern United States, where higher rates of tobacco use, limited access to specialty care, and socioeconomic disparities contribute to worse outcomes for underserved populations. This will include a detailed strategic framework, operational components, and evaluative measures necessary to develop a SPORE at UNC to enhance early detection, personalize therapies, and ultimately improve the prognosis for head and neck cancer patients (N&ouml;r &amp; Visioli, 2023; Vincent‐Chong et al., 2025).