NIH-funded research R03 grant

Human stem cell models of lung adenocarcinoma

Official title: Human stem and progenitor-based models of lung adenocarcinoma

Funded at University of Illinois at Chicago · NIH-11238552 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This project builds improved lab-grown human lung cancer models from patient cells to better reflect how lung adenocarcinoma develops and responds to treatments.

Quick facts

Grant typeR03 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Illinois at Chicago
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Chicago, UNITED STATES)
Project startDecember 1, 2024
Project endNovember 30, 2026
Funding year2026
Award (this year)$80,165
NIH project number5R03CA289845-02
Project IDNIH-11238552 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Adults with lung adenocarcinoma who can provide tumor tissue or surgical biopsy samples, typically through the treating hospital, would be ideal candidates to contribute samples.

Less likely to help

People without lung cancer, with other lung cancer subtypes not related to adenocarcinoma, or those unable/unwilling to provide tissue are unlikely to benefit directly from participation.

What this research studies

If you donate tissue, researchers will use human lung stem and progenitor cells to grow lab models that more closely match human lung adenocarcinoma than standard mouse tumors. They will introduce specific mutations and control tumor stage so the models mimic how cancers start and change in people. The team will compare these new models to existing patient-derived organoids and mouse models to see which best reflects the human disease. These human-relevant models could be used to test how tumors respond to different therapies, including immune-based treatments.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, these models could help scientists develop and test treatments that better match the biology of human lung adenocarcinoma.

How similar studies have gone: Patient-derived organoids and xenografts have shown promise in some cancers, but stem/progenitor-based human models for lung adenocarcinoma are relatively new and not yet widely validated.

Where this research is happening

  • University of Illinois at Chicago
    Chicago, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Kadur Lakshminarasim, Preetish — University of Illinois at Chicago
  • Study coordinator: Kadur Lakshminarasim, Preetish

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

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.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 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.