How CDKs control cell division and gene activity

Cyclin-dependent kinase control of cell-division and transcription cycles

['FUNDING_OTHER'] · ICAHN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT MOUNT SINAI · NIH-11290434

This project looks at how enzymes called CDKs and partner phosphatases control gene activity and cell division in ways that matter for cancer patients.

Quick facts

Phase['FUNDING_OTHER']
Study typeNih_funding
SexAll
SponsorICAHN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT MOUNT SINAI (nih funded)
Locations1 site (NEW YORK, UNITED STATES)
Trial IDNIH-11290434 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this research studies

Researchers at Mount Sinai use lab-grown cells and precise genetic changes to see how CDKs and phosphatases add or remove chemical marks on the molecular machines that make RNA. They will lock specific phosphatases into permanently on or off states and map genome-wide effects on RNA polymerase II behavior and gene expression. The team will also test small molecules that might disrupt these switches to see if they change gene activity or slow cell growth. The goal is to reveal molecular switches that could become targets for new cancer treatments.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Patients whose tumors show abnormal CDK or transcriptional regulation could be candidates for future trials based on these findings.

Not a fit: People with non-cancer conditions or cancers not driven by CDK/transcriptional changes are unlikely to benefit directly from this work.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify new drug targets to block cancer growth by disrupting key CDK–phosphatase switches.

How similar studies have performed: Some CDK-targeting drugs are already approved for cancer, but targeting transcriptional CDKs and the specific phosphatase switches here is a newer approach still at the preclinical stage.

Where this research is happening

NEW YORK, UNITED STATES

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.

View on NIH RePORTER →

Conditions: Cancer Treatment, Cancers

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.