Developing new drugs to treat advanced melanoma
Official title: Discovery of fused heterocyclic pyrazine based novel anti-mitotic agents for metastatic melanoma
Funded at Middle Tennessee State University · NIH-10937173 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working on developing new treatments for metastatic melanoma, a tough type of skin cancer, by creating special compounds that can stop cancer cells from dividing, which could lead to better and safer options for patients.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Middle Tennessee State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Murfreesboro, United States) |
| Project start | July 22, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $177,058 |
| NIH project number | 1R16GM154786-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10937173 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients diagnosed with advanced metastatic melanoma who have limited treatment options.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with early-stage melanoma or those who do not have metastatic disease may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on creating novel anti-mitotic agents to treat metastatic melanoma, a highly aggressive form of skin cancer with a poor prognosis. The approach involves designing new compounds that can effectively target and inhibit tubulin, a protein essential for cancer cell division. By utilizing advanced molecular modeling and synthetic chemistry, the researchers aim to optimize these compounds to overcome existing treatment limitations, such as drug resistance and toxicity. Patients may benefit from more effective treatment options that could improve survival rates.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective treatments for patients with metastatic melanoma, potentially improving survival rates.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promise in developing novel tubulin inhibitors, indicating that this approach may lead to significant advancements in cancer treatment.
Where this research is happening
-
Middle Tennessee State University
Murfreesboro, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Banerjee, Souvik — Middle Tennessee State University
- Study coordinator: Banerjee, Souvik
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Harnessing human CD1d-NKT cells to boost melanoma immunotherapy
A small NIH-funded project tests a new approach that uses a special type of immune cell to help treat metastatic melanoma in patients.
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New tubulin-blocking agents for metastatic melanoma
A new class of tiny molecules called fused heterocyclic pyrazines will be studied as potential anti-melanoma drugs, aimed at patients with metastatic melanoma.
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CM-HZ01: a new high-boost IL-2 therapy for advanced melanoma
A new IL-2 based treatment called CM-HZ01 is being developed to help people with metastatic melanoma by steering the immune system toward stronger anti-tumor activity with potentially fewer side effects.
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New anti-mitotic drugs for metastatic melanoma
Developing new medicines that stop cancer cells from dividing to help people with metastatic melanoma, including tumors that resist current chemotherapy.
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Investigating how dormant melanoma cells can reactivate and promote cancer growth.
This study is looking at how sleeping melanoma cells can affect nearby cells to help the cancer grow and resist treatment, and it's designed for researchers like Dr. Fane to learn new ways to find better treatments for melanoma.
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Developing a new treatment for metastatic melanoma using a specialized form of interleukin-2.
This study is testing a new treatment called CM-HZ01 that helps boost your immune system to fight metastatic melanoma by specifically activating certain immune cells, aiming to make the existing IL-2 therapy work better with fewer side effects for patients who don’t have many options left.
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.