Designing precise drugs that block BET protein interaction sites linked to cancer and viral infection
Targeting the ET domain of BET proteins: specificity and selectivity
This project aims to find molecules that specifically block a part of BET proteins to help create safer treatments for cancers and viral infections.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Florida NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Gainesville, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11345246 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will use computer-based screening and machine learning to search for peptides and small molecules that bind the ET interaction site on BET proteins. Top candidate binders will be refined with physics-based modeling and then tested and characterized by NMR experiments in the lab. The team will map how the ET domain interacts with different peptide sequences and how its flexible shapes affect binding strength and selectivity. Understanding these details will guide the design of drugs that target individual BET family members rather than blocking them all at once.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients with cancers or viral infections known to be driven by BET protein activity could be the eventual candidates for therapies developed from this work, once clinical testing begins.
Not a fit: Patients whose conditions are not driven by BET proteins or who need immediate approved treatments are unlikely to benefit directly from this preclinical research in the short term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could enable drugs that target specific BET proteins and reduce the toxic side effects seen with current non-selective BET inhibitors.
How similar studies have performed: Broad BET inhibitors have shown promise but cause toxicity, and targeting the ET domain for selective binding is a newer and less-tested strategy with promising early rationale.
Where this research is happening
Gainesville, United States
- University of Florida — Gainesville, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Perez, Alberto — University of Florida
- Study coordinator: Perez, Alberto
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 below.