A suite of new targeted cancer medicines
Developing a Suite of Targeted Anticancer Drugs
This project is creating targeted cancer medicines that match specific molecular changes in patients' tumors to offer more precise treatment options.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Champaign, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11172614 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
The team is designing many different drugs aimed at specific faults inside tumor cells. They synthesize compounds in the lab, test them on cancer cell lines and in animal models, and use methods to identify which tumor targets each drug hits. The lab has already moved four novel cancer drugs toward patients and now aims to expand that pipeline to address many more molecular tumor types. Promising candidates would be pushed toward clinical testing and, if successful, later offered to patients whose tumors match the drug's target.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people with cancer whose tumors have identifiable molecular or genetic alterations that match a drug's target.
Not a fit: Patients whose tumors lack clear, targetable molecular defects or whose disease is driven by complex non-targetable processes may not benefit from these targeted drugs.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could provide many more precise treatment options tailored to a patient's tumor genetics, potentially improving outcomes and lowering side effects.
How similar studies have performed: Earlier targeted medicines such as imatinib, vemurafenib, and osimertinib have demonstrated that matching drugs to tumor defects can be highly effective, though many defects still lack therapies.
Where this research is happening
Champaign, United States
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign — Champaign, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hergenrother, Paul — University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
- Study coordinator: Hergenrother, Paul
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.