How eIF6 controls the cell's protein-making machinery

Mechanism and Regulation of eIF6 in Translation

NIH-funded research Saint Louis University · NIH-11324034

Researchers aim to understand how the protein eIF6 affects protein production in cells so this knowledge can help develop new treatments for cancers linked to eIF6.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionSaint Louis University NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Saint Louis, United States)
Project IDNIH-11324034 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

From a patient's perspective, the team is studying how eIF6 sits on the large ribosomal subunit and how helper proteins like SBDS and EFL1 remove it so ribosomes can make proteins. They use biochemical tests, biophysical measurements, and cellular cancer models to map when and where eIF6 acts and how its release is regulated. The researchers also examine eIF6 levels in cancer cells and test what happens to tumor cell growth when eIF6 is reduced in lab models. This work aims to reveal specific molecular steps that could be targeted by future drugs.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: People with breast cancer or other tumors that show high eIF6 levels, or patients willing to donate tumor samples for laboratory research, would be most relevant to this effort.

Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate treatment or those whose cancers are not linked to eIF6 are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this laboratory-focused research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to stop cancer cells from growing by targeting eIF6 or its release from ribosomes.

How similar studies have performed: Preclinical lab studies have shown that lowering eIF6 can slow growth of some cancers, but eIF6-targeted therapies have not yet been tested in clinical trials.

Where this research is happening

Saint Louis, 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.
Conditions Breast CancerCancers
Last reviewed 2026-06-09 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.