biomarker-guided liposome therapy in pediatric cancer
Official title: Investigating SLC46A3 as a negative regulator of nanoparticle drug delivery
Funded at Seattle Children's Hospital · NIH-11398877 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A doctor is researching how a specific biomarker, SLC46A3, influences how well liposome-based cancer drugs work, with a focus on pediatric neuroblastoma.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Seattle Children's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | July 5, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $230,947 |
| NIH project number | 5K08CA277014-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11398877 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children with cancers that could be treated with liposome-based therapies, especially pediatric neuroblastoma models.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose tumors do not express the biomarker or are not suited to liposomal therapies may see no benefit.
What this research studies
This project explores whether the biomarker SLC46A3 can predict which patients will benefit most from liposome-delivered cancer drugs. The researcher will use preclinical models and in vivo experiments to connect SLC46A3 expression with how liposomes deliver therapy in pediatric neuroblastoma. The goal is to build strong preclinical data so that future biomarker-guided clinical trials can be designed for existing and experimental liposomal treatments. The training grant supports mentorship and skill development in biomarker-driven drug delivery within a pediatric oncology context.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients with high SLC46A3 expression could receive liposome therapies more likely to work for their cancer.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical data suggest SLC46A3 is linked to liposome delivery, but translational clinical validation is still needed.
Where this research is happening
-
Seattle Children's Hospital
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Straehla, Joelle Payne — Seattle Children's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Straehla, Joelle Payne
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.