Developing new treatments for K-RAS mutations in cancer
Official title: A Fragment-Based Strategy for K-RAS Covalent Inhibitors
Funded at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign · NIH-11140719 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking for new ways to block a gene called K-RAS that often causes cancers like pancreatic, colorectal, and lung cancer, and it's for patients with specific mutations in that gene to help find better treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Champaign, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $462,460 |
| NIH project number | 7R01CA264471-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11140719 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, colorectal cancer, or lung adenocarcinomas who have specific K-RAS mutations.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without K-RAS mutations or those with mutations that do not involve the targeted binding sites may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on finding new ways to inhibit K-RAS, a common oncogene mutated in various cancers, including pancreatic, colorectal, and lung cancers. The team is exploring how to create covalent inhibitors that can effectively bind to K-RAS proteins, particularly those with specific mutations. By using advanced techniques like high-resolution structural analysis and biochemical assays, they aim to identify novel binding sites that could lead to effective treatments for patients with these mutations.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new therapies for patients with cancers driven by K-RAS mutations, potentially improving treatment outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: This approach builds on recent breakthroughs in targeting K-RAS mutations, indicating a promising direction in cancer treatment.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Champaign, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Meroueh, Samy — University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
- Study coordinator: Meroueh, Samy
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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.