Chemical tools to find and target cancer-related protein changes

Unlocking the Chemical Space of Cancer-Associated Perturbations

['FUNDING_R01'] · UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA · NIH-11174292

Researchers are creating chemical probes that reveal how tumor proteins change so treatments can be better matched to people with cancer.

Quick facts

Phase['FUNDING_R01']
Study typeNih_funding
SexAll
SponsorUNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA (nih funded)
Locations1 site (PHILADELPHIA, UNITED STATES)
Trial IDNIH-11174292 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this research studies

This project will build a new platform called Probe Enabled Activity Reporting to measure dynamic changes in the proteins inside tumor cells. Scientists will combine chemistry and cancer biology to make and use small-molecule probes that tag active or altered proteins in cell lines and tumor samples. The work will map unique protein features that drive cancer behavior and that could point to new drug targets. Over time this approach aims to connect protein-level information with therapies that might work for specific tumors.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: People with cancer who can provide tumor tissue or who might join future trials based on protein-based profiling are the most relevant candidates.

Not a fit: Patients without cancer, those who cannot provide samples, or those whose tumors lack targetable protein changes are unlikely to gain direct benefit from this project.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the platform could help identify new protein targets and guide more precise treatment choices for cancer patients.

How similar studies have performed: Related chemical-proteomics methods have shown promise in research settings, but this specific probe-enabled platform is a novel development.

Where this research is happening

PHILADELPHIA, UNITED STATES

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.

View on NIH RePORTER →

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.