Developing a next-generation system to map protein interactions and find drug candidates
Official title: Developing I2H for near-complete PPI-mapping and drug discovery
Funded at Boston Interactome, INC. · NIH-11408999 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new AI-powered platform aims to map protein–protein interactions more completely and speed up the discovery of drugs that modulate those interactions, starting with the SIN3A complex.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 1 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston Interactome, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $349,753 |
| NIH project number | 1R43GM165212-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11408999 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with diseases where PPI modulation is a therapeutic strategy, such as certain cancers linked to the SIN3A complex.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without diseases related to aberrant PPIs or where PPI-targeted drugs are not applicable may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project develops the Integrated Two-Hybrid (I2H) platform, merging multiple protein expression backgrounds and detection modes to achieve near-complete mapping of protein interactions. It will build a Drug–PPI Network with 80 clinical and preclinical interactions supported by robust evidence, and test the approach by running a large virtual screen for modulators of the SIN3A complex, which is linked to cancer. The work leverages AI augmentation to identify promising PPI-targeting compounds more efficiently than traditional methods. If successful, this platform could accelerate mechanism-based target discovery and help bring PPI-focused therapies closer to patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could benefit from faster identification of new drugs that modulate disease-driving protein interactions.
How similar studies have gone: Previous PPI mapping methods are slower and less comprehensive; this project aims for higher coverage and faster discovery, representing a notable advance.
Where this research is happening
-
Boston Interactome, INC.
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Choi, Soongang — Boston Interactome, INC.
- Study coordinator: Choi, Soongang
Related research
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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.