Finding new drugs to block a specific protease involved in cancer treatment
Official title: Identification of small molecule inhibitors of the DDI2 protease
Funded at Virginia Commonwealth University · NIH-11057516 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking for new drugs that can help make cancer treatments, like those for multiple myeloma and breast cancer, work better by blocking a protein called DDI2 that helps cancer cells survive.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Virginia Commonwealth University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Richmond, United States) |
| Project start | April 10, 2023 |
| Project end | March 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $699,304 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA279255-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11057516 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients diagnosed with multiple myeloma or breast cancer who are seeking new treatment options.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with cancers not reliant on proteasome activity or those who have not responded to proteasome inhibitors may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on identifying small molecule inhibitors of the DDI2 protease, which plays a crucial role in cancer cell survival. By inhibiting DDI2, the researchers aim to enhance the effectiveness of existing proteasome inhibitors used in treating conditions like multiple myeloma and breast cancer. The study will involve high-throughput screening of compounds to find those that effectively bind to DDI2, potentially leading to new treatment options. Patients may benefit from improved therapies that target cancer cells more effectively while minimizing the recovery of proteasome activity that limits current treatments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective cancer treatments that improve patient outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown success with proteasome inhibitors in cancer treatment, indicating that targeting related pathways may also yield beneficial results.
Where this research is happening
-
Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Radhakrishnan, Senthil Kumar — Virginia Commonwealth University
- Study coordinator: Radhakrishnan, Senthil Kumar
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.