Developing personalized treatments for B-cell cancers using aptamers.
Official title: A Practical Approach to Tumor-Specific Aptamers for B-Cell Hematologic Malignancies
Funded at Columbia Univ New York Morningside · NIH-10834040 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is exploring a new way to create personalized treatments for patients with certain blood cancers by finding special markers on their cancer cells, using a clever tool to develop tiny DNA or RNA strands that can target these markers, which could lead to better and faster ways to diagnose and treat their condition.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Columbia Univ New York Morningside NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2022 |
| Project end | April 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $219,177 |
| NIH project number | 5R21CA261775-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-10834040 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with B-cell hematologic malignancies, such as multiple myeloma or certain types of lymphomas.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with non-B-cell malignancies or those who do not have identifiable tumor-specific markers may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on creating personalized medicine approaches for patients with B-cell hematologic malignancies by targeting unique tumor-specific markers found on their cancer cells. The study utilizes a novel microfluidic platform called microSELEX to efficiently generate aptamers, which are short strands of DNA or RNA that can specifically bind to these tumor markers. By isolating these aptamers, the research aims to improve diagnostics and treatment strategies tailored to individual patients, enhancing the effectiveness of cancer care. This approach addresses the challenges of traditional methods that are often time-consuming and impractical for personalized applications.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective and personalized treatment options for patients with B-cell cancers.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown promise in using patient-specific antibodies for similar applications, but this approach using aptamers is innovative and less tested.
Where this research is happening
-
Columbia Univ New York Morningside
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lin, Qiao — Columbia Univ New York Morningside
- Study coordinator: Lin, Qiao
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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.