Blocking proteins that help tumors survive low oxygen (HIF coactivators)
Official title: Structural, Chemical, And Cellular Probing of a New Anticancer Target: HIF-Coactivator Complexes
Funded at City College of New York · NIH-11194440 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are developing small molecules to block proteins that team up with HIF to slow growth of cancers linked to low oxygen, such as some kidney cancers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | City College of New York NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | September 26, 2008 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $196,250 |
| NIH project number | 5U54CA132378-17 |
| Project ID | NIH-11194440 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with tumors driven by HIF overexpression—for example certain kidney cancers—would be the most likely future candidates for therapies developed from this work.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose cancers are driven by unrelated molecular pathways or who need immediate clinical treatment are unlikely to gain direct benefit from these early-stage laboratory studies.
What this research studies
The teams at City College of New York and Memorial Sloan Kettering are using structural biology (like cryo-EM), chemistry, and cell-based lab tests to map how HIF and its coactivator proteins fit together and to find compounds that disrupt those interactions. They combine biophysical measurements with cellular assays to see which molecules bind the protein complexes and change their activity. Early lab data show structural images of ARNT-containing complexes and some moderate-strength small-molecule inhibitors. The goal is to turn those lab findings into lead compounds that could later be tested as cancer therapies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new targeted drugs that slow or stop HIF-driven tumor growth and offer additional treatment options for kidney and other solid tumors.
How similar studies have gone: Other laboratory efforts targeting HIF or similar protein–protein interactions have produced experimental inhibitors and useful structural insights, but translating those findings into approved drugs has been challenging.
Where this research is happening
-
City College of New York
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gardner, Kevin H — City College of New York
- Study coordinator: Gardner, Kevin H
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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.