Exploring a biomarker to enhance nanoparticle drug delivery for cancer treatment
Official title: Investigating SLC46A3 as a negative regulator of nanoparticle drug delivery
Funded at Seattle Children's Hospital · NIH-11258338 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at a new marker called SLC46A3 to see how it can help improve cancer treatments using tiny particles, specifically for kids with neuroblastoma, so that doctors can better target therapies and make them more effective for the right patients.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Seattle Children's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | July 5, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $230,946 |
| NIH project number | 7K08CA277014-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11258338 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are pediatric patients diagnosed with neuroblastoma who may benefit from nanoparticle-based therapies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with cancer types other than neuroblastoma or those who do not express the SLC46A3 biomarker may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the role of SLC46A3, a newly identified biomarker, in improving the delivery of nanoparticle-based therapies for cancer treatment. By focusing on pediatric neuroblastoma, the study aims to understand how SLC46A3 affects the metabolism of phospholipids in cancer cells, which could enhance the effectiveness of liposomal nanotherapeutics. The project will involve both laboratory experiments and the development of clinical strategies to identify patients who would benefit most from these advanced treatments. Ultimately, the goal is to establish SLC46A3 as a reliable clinical biomarker that can guide personalized cancer therapy.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective cancer treatments tailored to individual patients based on their biomarker profiles.
How similar studies have gone: While nanoparticle therapies are being explored in various contexts, the specific focus on SLC46A3 as a biomarker for liposomal delivery is a novel approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Seattle Children's Hospital
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Straehla, Joelle Payne — Seattle Children's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Straehla, Joelle Payne
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.