Cycling Molecular Assemblies to Target Golgi Traffic in Cancer Cells
Official title: Cycling Molecular Assemblies (CyMA) for Cell-Selective Disruption of Golgi-Mediated Trafficking via Enzyme-Driven Supramolecular Localization
Funded at Brandeis University · NIH-11459434 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A novel, first-of-its-kind approach uses tiny, self-organizing molecular structures to selectively disrupt Golgi trafficking in cancer cells, aiming to influence how cancer cells grow and respond to signals.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brandeis University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Waltham, United States) |
| Project start | September 4, 2026 |
| Project end | June 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $525,039 |
| NIH project number | 1R01GM167078-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11459434 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals whose cancers are characterized by dependencies on Golgi-mediated trafficking or related pathways and who may be eligible for future trials.
✕Less likely to help
Some patients' tumors may not rely on Golgi trafficking in a way that this approach can exploit.
What this research studies
This project explores a new way to control how cells ship proteins and lipids by using cycling molecular assemblies that accumulate at the Golgi apparatus. By operating through kinetic cycles rather than single-target binding, these assemblies may selectively affect cancer cells while limiting effects on normal cells. Researchers will study how these CyMA structures disrupt vesicular trafficking and alter downstream pathways that influence tumor growth and immune interactions. The work leverages Brandeis University facilities and techniques to characterize how CyMA behave inside cells and how they impact cellular function. If successful, this could point to a new strategy for interfering with cancer cell biology at the level of intracellular transport.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients with cancer could benefit from a new way to modulate cancer cell behavior by disrupting Golgi trafficking.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has demonstrated proof-of-concept in intracellular trafficking modulation, with this study advancing toward cell-selective, organelle-focused disruption.
Where this research is happening
-
Brandeis University
Waltham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Xu, Bing — Brandeis University
- Study coordinator: Xu, Bing
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.