Finding new drug targets for liver cancer treatment
Official title: CRISPR and Humanized mice-based Discovery of a Novel Drug target for HCC Therapy
Funded at University of Alabama at Birmingham · NIH-11030261 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking for new ways to treat liver cancer by finding out what helps tumors grow and how we can stop them, so that patients can have better treatment options in the future.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Alabama at Birmingham NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Birmingham, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2024 |
| Project end | March 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $173,559 |
| NIH project number | 5R21CA288243-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11030261 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients diagnosed with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma who have limited treatment options.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with early-stage liver cancer or those who do not have hepatocellular carcinoma may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates new therapeutic targets for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common type of liver cancer. By using advanced techniques like CRISPR and humanized mouse models, the study aims to identify factors that promote tumor growth and how to effectively inhibit them. The approach focuses on overcoming limitations of traditional drug discovery methods, which often fail to translate effectively to human treatments. Patients may benefit from the identification of new, more effective therapies for advanced liver cancer.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to the development of more effective treatments for patients with advanced liver cancer.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promise in using CRISPR and humanized models for drug target discovery, indicating a potential for success in this novel approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wajapeyee, Narendra — University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Study coordinator: Wajapeyee, Narendra
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.