Better lab models of lung adenocarcinoma to improve treatment testing
Official title: Full Project 4 - Lung
Funded at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical Univ · NIH-11180526 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project builds lab-grown lung cancer models that match the gene changes seen in high-risk patients so researchers can test targeted drugs more accurately.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Florida Agricultural and Mechanical Univ NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Tallahassee, United States) |
| Project start | September 19, 2018 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $110,556 |
| NIH project number | 5U54CA233396-08 |
| Project ID | NIH-11180526 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with lung adenocarcinoma—particularly those from under-studied demographic groups or whose tumors have specific genetic mutations or heavy tobacco-exposure histories—are most relevant to this work.
✕Less likely to help
People without lung adenocarcinoma or those with different lung cancer types (for example, small-cell lung cancer) are unlikely to gain direct benefit in the near term.
What this research studies
We will identify the key driver gene changes in lung adenocarcinoma and create new cell-based models derived from alveolar epithelial cells that reflect those mutations. The team combines chemistry, engineering, and molecular genetics to grow 3-D lab models and characterize how they respond to targeted therapies. Because existing cell lines under-represent certain high-risk patient groups, we will prioritize models that reflect those under-studied populations and specific mutation patterns. These lab models will be used to screen therapies and help decide which treatments should move forward toward clinical testing.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could speed development of targeted treatments that work better for patients with specific lung adenocarcinoma mutations and under-studied groups.
How similar studies have gone: Related efforts using patient-derived cell lines and 3-D tumor models have helped identify promising drugs, but models representing these specific high-risk LUAD groups are limited, so parts of this work are novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical Univ
Tallahassee, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lamango, Nazarius Saah — Florida Agricultural and Mechanical Univ
- Study coordinator: Lamango, Nazarius Saah
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.