Creating lab models of breast tumors to improve treatment for Black women with breast cancer
Official title: Engineering ex vivo breast tumors in human breast tissue to address racial disparities in HR-/ERBB2+ breast cancer
Funded at Keliomics, INC. · NIH-10922275 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working on creating special lab models of breast tumors using real human breast tissue to better understand how breast cancer affects Black and White women differently, with the goal of finding better treatments that can help improve survival rates for Black women with breast cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 1 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Keliomics, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Portland, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $398,895 |
| NIH project number | 1R43CA291515-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10922275 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are Black women diagnosed with breast cancer, particularly those with HR-/ERBB2+ subtypes.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have breast cancer or those with breast cancer subtypes not addressed by this research may not benefit.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing innovative lab models of breast tumors using human breast tissue to better understand and address the unique biological differences in breast cancer between Black and White women. By keeping human breast tissue alive in the lab, the researchers aim to create specific models that reflect various subtypes of breast cancer, including those prevalent in Black women. The project will first identify the optimal conditions for generating these models and then conduct studies to ensure they accurately respond to chemotherapy, mirroring patient responses. This approach aims to accelerate the development of targeted therapies that could improve survival rates for Black women facing breast cancer.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to the development of more effective breast cancer treatments specifically tailored for Black women, potentially reducing mortality rates.
How similar studies have gone: While the approach of using human breast tissue for model development is innovative, similar strategies have shown promise in other cancer research, indicating potential for success.
Where this research is happening
-
Keliomics, INC.
Portland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lau, Frank — Keliomics, INC.
- Study coordinator: Lau, Frank
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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.