Developing new agents to improve cancer treatment using alpha particles
Official title: Chelators to Enable Theranostic Alpha Particle Radiotherapeutic Agents
Funded at University of California Santa Barbara · NIH-11228566 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is exploring a new way to treat cancer using special agents that can deliver targeted radiation directly to cancer cells, which could lead to better and more precise treatments for patients.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Santa Barbara NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Santa Barbara, United States) |
| Project start | March 5, 2020 |
| Project end | November 30, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $348,204 |
| NIH project number | 7R56EB029259-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-11228566 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients with cancers that express specific receptors targeted by the new radiopharmaceutical agents being developed.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with cancers that do not express the targeted receptors or those who are not eligible for radionuclide therapy may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on enhancing cancer treatment through targeted internal radionuclide therapy, which uses radiopharmaceutical agents to destroy cancer cells. The approach involves creating new bifunctional chelators that can effectively bind alpha particle emitters to cancer-targeting vectors, allowing for precise treatment. By addressing the challenges of using alpha emitters, which lack certain emissions useful for diagnostics, this research aims to improve both therapeutic and diagnostic capabilities in cancer care. Patients may benefit from more effective and targeted cancer therapies as a result of this innovative approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective cancer treatments that specifically target malignant cells while minimizing damage to healthy tissue.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using alpha particle emitters for cancer treatment, but this specific approach of developing new chelators is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wilson, Justin J — University of California Santa Barbara
- Study coordinator: Wilson, Justin J
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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.