Developing biosensors to identify and target dormant cancer cells
Official title: Intersectional genetics-based biosensors for dormant cancer cells
Funded at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai · NIH-10830302 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at cancer cells that can hide in the body and come back years after treatment, and it aims to develop a special tool to find and target these sneaky cells so that we can improve cancer treatments and help patients stay healthy longer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $190,495 |
| NIH project number | 5R61CA278402-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10830302 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are cancer survivors who are at risk of metastasis due to dormant cancer cells.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with active cancer or those who have not undergone treatment may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding dormant cancer cells that can reactivate and cause metastasis years after initial treatment. By using advanced genetic tools, the team aims to uncover the unique gene expression profiles of these dormant cells. They plan to create a biosensor that can identify and manipulate these cells in living organisms, potentially leading to targeted therapies that can eliminate them without harming normal cells. This innovative approach seeks to improve cancer treatment outcomes by addressing a critical gap in current therapies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new therapies that effectively target and eliminate dormant cancer cells, reducing the risk of cancer recurrence.
How similar studies have gone: While the approach of using biosensors for cancer cells is innovative, similar genetic profiling techniques have shown promise in other areas of cancer research.
Where this research is happening
-
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bravo-Cordero, Jose Javier — Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
- Study coordinator: Bravo-Cordero, Jose Javier
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Improving Breast Cancer Guideline Adherence in Nigeria
Aimed at helping doctors in Nigeria follow international guideline-based breast cancer care to improve outcomes for women with breast cancer.
-
Genetically Validated PCOS Subtypes for Better Diagnosis and Risk Stratification
Aimed at women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), this project uses genetic data and patient characteristics to define distinct PCOS subtypes and improve how we diagnose and estimate risk.
-
Closed-loop control of interneuron timing to influence seizures and memory in epilepsy
A study tests a brain-quieting system that uses light to precisely time certain brain cells in epilepsy-prone mice to see if this can lessen seizures and improve memory.
-
Understanding why some brain regions and cells accumulate tau in Alzheimer’s and related diseases
Researchers are studying why certain brain areas and neuron types accumulate tau protein in Alzheimer’s and related conditions, and how this leads to brain changes and symptoms.
-
Improving blood flow after stroke by breaking down NETs
Aims to see if breaking down neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) after an ischemic stroke can improve blood flow and reduce brain injury in patients.
-
Aging and brain injury connection: learning how late-life TBI relates to Alzheimer’s and related dementias
This grant looks at whether traumatic brain injuries in people 65 and older are linked to Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, using a large, harmonized set of long-term aging studies.
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.