Cholesterol in Liposomal Cancer Drugs and Safer Formulations
Official title: CHOLESTEROL METABOLISM IN THE PHARMACOLOGY OF LIPOSOMAL THERAPEUTICS
Funded at Texas Tech University Health Scis Center · NIH-11404914 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A researcher at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center is studying how cholesterol in liposome-based cancer drugs interacts with the body’s immune system to improve or worsen tumor growth, with the goal of making safer, more effective treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Texas Tech University Health Scis Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Lubbock, United States) |
| Project start | September 19, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $459,978 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA282339-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11404914 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients whose cancers are treated with liposomal chemotherapies or who may benefit from improved liposomal drug formulations.
✕Less likely to help
Patients receiving standard non-liposomal therapies or those not affected by cholesterol-related mechanisms may see no direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project examines how liposomal cholesterol is metabolized and how those metabolites affect macrophages and anti-tumor immunity in mice. The team plans time-dependent studies in immune cells and tumor-bearing mice to map the pathways involved. They aim to identify cholesterol analogs that preserve drug delivery but avoid promoting tumor growth. The work could lead to liposomal formulations that are less likely to suppress the immune response against cancer. Overall, the research seeks to translate basic findings into safer liposomal cancer therapies for patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to liposomal cancer drugs that are safer and more effective by avoiding immune suppression and reducing tumor growth.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work showed liposome interactions can alter tumor immunity; this project builds on that by identifying precise metabolic pathways and safer cholesterol analogs.
Where this research is happening
-
Texas Tech University Health Scis Center
Lubbock, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: La-Beck, Ninh — Texas Tech University Health Scis Center
- Study coordinator: La-Beck, Ninh
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.