First-in-class cancer drug that blocks protein translation and an immune checkpoint
Official title: First in Class Small molecules to simultaneously inhibit protein translation and an immune checkpoint in cancers
Funded at University of Maryland Baltimore · NIH-11473208 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new type of cancer drug aims to hit two important cancer pathways at once to slow or stop tumor growth with potentially fewer side effects.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Maryland Baltimore NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | December 11, 2023 |
| Project end | November 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $108,736 |
| NIH project number | 3R01CA285468-03S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11473208 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are patients whose cancers rely on hnRNP A18–driven translation pathways and related protein synthesis processes.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with cancers not dependent on hnRNP A18 or who cannot tolerate investigational small molecules may not see benefit.
What this research studies
This grant explores novel small molecules that inhibit hnRNP A18, a protein that helps cancer cells make proteins that drive growth and spread. By targeting multiple key pathways at the same time, the approach seeks to reduce drug resistance and overall toxicity. The study will characterize how these compounds interact with translation machinery and assess potential anti-tumor effects in relevant models. Researchers hope the findings could lead to therapies that work across several cancers while minimizing harm to normal tissues.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could benefit from more effective and less toxic cancer treatments that tackle multiple cancer-driving pathways.
How similar studies have gone: Previous approaches targeting protein translation have shown benefit in some cancers but often face resistance and toxicity; this work seeks to improve on that by dual-pathway targeting.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Maryland Baltimore
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Carrier, France — University of Maryland Baltimore
- Study coordinator: Carrier, France
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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.