How chromatin protein complexes control genes in cancer
Official title: Chemical Genetic Approaches to Study Chromatin Complexes
Funded at Harvard University · NIH-11397259 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at whether blocking a protein called LSD1 and its partners can stop cancers with altered gene-control machinery, such as some medulloblastomas.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Harvard University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cambridge, United States) |
| Project start | May 3, 2023 |
| Project end | April 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $563,456 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA274437-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11397259 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients whose tumors overexpress GFI1B or carry KBTBD4 mutations — such as certain group 3 and 4 medulloblastomas — would be the most relevant candidates for future trials stemming from this research.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with cancers that are not driven by chromatin-related changes or lacking LSD1/GFI1B involvement are unlikely to benefit directly from these specific findings.
What this research studies
Researchers are using chemical-genetic tools and drug-resistant mutations to map how LSD1 and its partner proteins like GFI1B and KBTBD4 work together to control gene activity. They will test how small molecules that bind LSD1 change these protein interactions and whether that disrupts tumor growth in lab models. The team uses cell-based assays and mouse models linked to medulloblastoma to see which interactions are most important for cancer. Results will guide whether these protein interactions are promising targets for new cancer drugs.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new targeted treatments that stop or slow tumors driven by LSD1/GFI1B interactions, including some medulloblastomas.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical studies, including mouse models, have shown that LSD1 inhibitors can be effective in GFI1B-driven medulloblastoma, but clinical benefit in people has not yet been established.
Where this research is happening
-
Harvard University
Cambridge, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Liau, Brian — Harvard University
- Study coordinator: Liau, Brian
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Using biomaterials to boost T cell immunity against cancer
This study is exploring new ways to boost the immune system's T cells, which help fight cancer, by using special materials to create artificial cells that can better activate them, with the hope of developing improved treatments for cancer patients.
-
Understanding how venom glands develop to reveal new medicines
A Corsortium at Harvard studies how venom glands form and work in different animals to uncover new ways to create and use powerful medicines for human health.
-
Muscle Mass: a Key Missing Piece in How We Model Movement
This project studies how adding muscle mass to computer models changes predictions of movement, aiming to improve mobility for people of all ages.
-
Synthetic circuit tools to precisely control human immune cells
Aims to design safe, programmable gene circuits that can steer human immune cells for better therapies.
-
HPF-X: A fast, buffer-exchanging high-pressure freezing tool for capturing rapid cellular events
A new tool called HPF-X will let scientists freeze cells at precise moments after stimulation, so we can see rapid molecular changes in neuroscience and related fields.
-
Pathways and factors to prevent early-onset colorectal tumors
This NIH grant would explore why colorectal cancer is rising in people under 50 and identify clues we can use to prevent it.
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.