Developing new drugs to target a key gene in acute myeloid leukemia
Official title: A Multiplatform Approach to Develop ENL-Targeting Molecules as Drug Candidates for Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Funded at Texas A&m University · NIH-11089398 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at a gene called MLL that often causes problems in people with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and the researchers want to find new medicines that can better target a related protein to help improve treatment and survival for patients with this blood cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Texas A&m University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (College Station, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $480,008 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA291968-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11089398 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia, particularly those with mutations in the MLL gene.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with other types of leukemia or those whose AML does not involve MLL mutations may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on acute myeloid leukemia (AML), a serious blood cancer that requires urgent treatment. The team is investigating a specific gene, MLL, which is often mutated in AML and is linked to poor patient outcomes. They aim to create new drug candidates that can effectively target the ENL protein associated with MLL mutations. By using advanced techniques to analyze the effectiveness of these compounds, they hope to identify promising therapies that could improve survival rates for patients with AML.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new, more effective treatments for patients with acute myeloid leukemia.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in targeting similar genetic alterations in leukemia, indicating potential for success in this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Texas A&m University
College Station, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Liu, Wenshe Ray — Texas A&m University
- Study coordinator: Liu, Wenshe Ray
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Targeting the SCP4 pathway in acute myeloid leukemia (AML)
Aims to uncover how the SCP4 signaling pathway drives AML and how it could be blocked to help patients.
-
Interferon-γ plus donor immune cells to fight AML/MDS after partial donor transplant
This project tests a therapy that adds a signaling protein, IFN-γ, with donor immune cells to help treat relapsed AML/MDS after a haploidentical stem cell transplant.
-
Targeting the protein housekeeping system in adult leukemia
Researchers are testing a new approach to treat acute myeloid leukemia by disrupting how AML cells manage their proteins, with the goal of helping patients live longer and healthier lives.
-
Understanding how epigenetic helper proteins drive AML and how to target them
A scientist team is studying how accessory proteins in gene-regulating complexes affect acute myeloid leukemia and whether they can be targeted for safer, more precise therapies.
-
Targeting FLVCR1-enabled choline use in a aggressive AML subtype
A new approach aims to block how a specific leukemia subtype (CG-AML) takes up choline to feed its growth, potentially slowing or stopping the disease.
-
Advancing CD70-targeted CAR-NK Therapy for AML
A patient-focused look at a new cell therapy that uses engineered NK cells to target AML by hitting CD70, aiming to reduce relapse with potentially fewer blood cell problems.
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.