How RAS proteins move on cell membranes to reveal tumor weak spots
Differential function and tumor vulnerabilities revealed by RAS membrane trafficking
This project looks at how different RAS proteins travel on cell membranes to find new weak points that could help people with RAS-driven cancers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New York University School of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11180107 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This work uses lab experiments to understand how mutant RAS proteins attach to and move on cell membranes. Scientists will use biochemical tests and genome-wide CRISPR screens to compare KRAS and NRAS variants and to map the modifications that control membrane association. They will test which membrane behaviors make tumor cells dependent on RAS and try ways to disrupt that attachment in cell and animal models. The goal is to identify vulnerabilities that could become targets for future treatments.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People whose cancers carry KRAS or NRAS mutations—such as many pancreatic, colorectal, and lung cancers—would be the most likely to benefit or be future trial candidates.
Not a fit: Patients whose tumors do not have RAS mutations or whose cancers are driven by unrelated pathways are unlikely to benefit from RAS-targeted approaches.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the project could reveal new drug targets or strategies to block RAS function and lead to treatments for people with RAS-driven tumors.
How similar studies have performed: Earlier efforts to block RAS membrane attachment (for example with farnesyltransferase inhibitors) largely failed, but recent successes targeting specific KRAS mutants show RAS can be drugged and this approach is a novel angle on that challenge.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- New York University School of Medicine — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Philips, Mark Reid — New York University School of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Philips, Mark Reid
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 below.