Developing new cancer treatments and imaging
02 - Experimental Therapeutics
This program creates new targeted cancer drugs and imaging tests to help people with breast, bladder, and other cancers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P30 center grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Alabama at Birmingham NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Birmingham, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11322728 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient's perspective, this program works to develop and test new drugs and imaging tests for cancers such as triple-negative breast cancer and bladder cancer. Researchers validate targets in lab and animal models, perform medicinal chemistry to make clinical-grade inhibitors, and build imaging markers that can show whether a treatment is working. Some imaging tools (for example measures of hypoxia and granzyme B) have already moved into clinical trials at UAB for breast cancer, melanoma, and lung cancer. The team also tests combinations of targeted drugs (for example EGFR or PARP inhibitors) with other therapies to try to improve outcomes.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with triple-negative breast cancer, bladder cancer, or other tumors who are eligible for clinical trials at the University of Alabama at Birmingham could be candidates for therapies or imaging studies from this program.
Not a fit: People without cancer, those whose tumor types are not being targeted by the program, or patients who cannot travel to Birmingham are unlikely to benefit directly.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, it could produce new targeted medicines and imaging tools that detect response earlier and improve survival and quality of life for cancer patients.
How similar studies have performed: Related approaches using targeted inhibitors and imaging biomarkers have shown benefit in some cancers, but specific targets mentioned here (for example LIMK2 and PAK4) remain in earlier stages of development.
Where this research is happening
Birmingham, United States
- University of Alabama at Birmingham — Birmingham, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lapi, Suzanne Elizabeth — University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Study coordinator: Lapi, Suzanne Elizabeth
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.