Developing advanced imaging technology to study cancer stem cells and drug resistance

Technology Development Unit

NIH-funded research Northwestern University · NIH-11003273

This study is working on a new imaging tool to better understand how the structure of chromatin affects cancer stem cells and their ability to resist chemotherapy, helping us learn more about cancer and how to improve treatments.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionNorthwestern University NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Chicago, UNITED STATES)
Project IDNIH-11003273 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research focuses on creating a cutting-edge nanoimaging platform to explore the structure of chromatin and its role in cancer stem cells and their resistance to chemotherapy. By integrating molecular analyses and computational modeling, the project aims to understand how chromatin influences gene expression at various scales, from the molecular level to entire cell populations. The research addresses key challenges in imaging, including the need to capture complex molecular interactions and changes over time, which are crucial for understanding cancer biology and treatment responses.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are patients with cancers that exhibit stem cell-like properties and chemoresistance.

Not a fit: Patients with non-cancerous conditions or those whose cancers do not involve stem cell characteristics may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved strategies for targeting cancer stem cells and overcoming drug resistance in cancer treatment.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown promising results using advanced imaging techniques to study cancer biology, indicating that this approach has the potential for significant breakthroughs.

Where this research is happening

Chicago, UNITED STATES

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions anti-cancer researchCancer Biologycancer cellcancer progenitorcancer progenitor cells
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.