Creating a mouse model to test new treatments for a rare aggressive cancer.
Official title: Developing humanized Nut Carcinoma mouse model for developing NUTM1 targeted therapies.
Funded at Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences · NIH-11005006 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is creating special mice that have a type of cancer called NUT carcinoma, which is tough to treat, to help researchers learn more about how this cancer grows and to find better treatments for people with it.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R03 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (East Lansing, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2024 |
| Project end | December 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $78,500 |
| NIH project number | 5R03CA286646-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11005006 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are children under 11 years old diagnosed with NUT carcinoma or those with a strong genetic predisposition to this type of cancer.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with other types of cancer or those over the age of 11 may not benefit from this specific research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a humanized mouse model for NUT carcinoma, a rare and aggressive cancer with a poor prognosis. The study aims to investigate the role of the BRD4-NUTM1 fusion gene, which is crucial for the cancer's growth, and to explore targeted therapies that can effectively inhibit this gene. By using genetically engineered mice that mimic human NUT carcinoma, researchers hope to better understand the disease and test new treatment options. This approach could lead to more effective therapies for patients suffering from this challenging condition.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to the development of targeted therapies that significantly improve survival rates for patients with NUT carcinoma.
How similar studies have gone: While research on targeted therapies for NUT carcinoma is limited, the development of similar mouse models has shown promise in other cancer types, indicating potential for success in this novel approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences
East Lansing, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gu, Bin — Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Gu, Bin
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Novel idea: Epstein-Barr virus and eye cancer in people living with HIV in Zimbabwe
A study explores whether Epstein-Barr virus could cause a type of eye cancer in people living with HIV in Zimbabwe.
-
Glutamine and macrophage behavior in liver cancer
A funded project at a medical university aims to understand how the liver’s immune cells interact with a specific type of liver cancer by looking at metabolism, especially glutamine and ammonia.
-
Understanding bladder cancer biology to find new biomarkers and therapies
A study at Tuskegee University will look at the molecules inside high-grade bladder cancer to discover new markers and potential treatment targets.
-
Oral cancer recurrence predictor using tumor microbes and gene activity
This NIH grant explores how bacteria and immune signals inside oral cancer tumors relate to whether the cancer comes back, with the aim of making a practical risk predictor for patients.
-
Understanding how bladder cancer starts in Veterans exposed to carcinogens and the role of PPAR-g in early bladder cancer
A research team is studying how bladder cancer begins and progresses in Veterans exposed to carcinogens, focusing on the PPAR-γ protein and early precancerous changes.
-
Adding PSMA PET/CT imaging to liver cancer care for veterans
This project tests a new PET imaging approach to help diagnose and guide treatment for liver cancer in veterans.
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.