Characterizing cancer cell states with new computational and lab tools
Official title: Identification and characterization of cancer cell states by novel computational and experimental technologies - Resubmission - 1
Funded at New York University School of Medicine · NIH-11535229 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are graphicing cancer cell states using new computer analyses and experiments to better understand why tumors resist treatment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New York University School of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | June 21, 2022 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $214,725 |
| NIH project number | 3U01CA260432-05S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11535229 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with melanoma or other cancers where intratumor heterogeneity contributes to treatment resistance.
✕Less likely to help
Results may not directly affect patients whose tumors do not display the studied heterogeneity patterns.
What this research studies
This project aims to map how cancer cells diverge into different states within a tumor using advanced gene-module methods and real patient samples. It combines computational work with a zebrafish melanoma model to test how these states drive disease progression and response to therapies. The work will integrate single-cell and spatial data to define state signatures and then perturb them to see the effects in tumor initiation, growth, and spread. The study brings together expertise from NYU and Oxford to leverage unique model systems and human melanoma samples.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could identify key cancer cell states that drive resistance and reveal new targets for more effective therapies.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows that cell-state definitions and perturbations can influence tumor behavior, supporting a translational potential for this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
New York University School of Medicine
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yanai, Itai — New York University School of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Yanai, Itai
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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.