Enabling Imaging and Alpha Therapy with New Chelators for Cancer
Official title: Enabling Diagnostic Imaging and Targeted Alpha Therapy with New Chelators
Funded at University of California Santa Barbara · NIH-11427379 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A cancer-focused project aims to create new chelators that let alpha-emitter radiopharmaceuticals both image and treat tumors more effectively.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Santa Barbara NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Santa Barbara, United States) |
| Project start | August 5, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $447,728 |
| NIH project number | 1R01EB039679-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11427379 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with cancers that overexpress specific targets and could benefit from targeted radiopharmaceuticals.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose cancer types are not suitable for radionuclide therapy or who cannot tolerate radiopharmaceuticals.
What this research studies
This research seeks to design bifunctional chelators that smoothly attach radionuclides to targeting molecules used to seek out cancer cells. By aligning diagnostic gamma/positron emissions with alpha-therapy, it could enable both detecting tumors and delivering potent treatment in one package. The team will explore chemistry and coordination strategies to handle alpha emitters like actinium-225 that are difficult to use clinically. The work involves collaboration between chemistry and biology experts to ensure the agents are stable, selective, and safe. If successful, it could expand options for targeted internal radionuclide therapy and theranostics.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could benefit from more precise imaging and more effective alpha-particle cancer therapy.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies show promise for alpha-emitter therapies, but reliable bifunctional chelators for combined imaging and therapy remain an area of active development.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wilson, Justin J — University of California Santa Barbara
- Study coordinator: Wilson, Justin J
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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.