Identifying druggable targets to protect the heart from cancer therapy side effects
Official title: Identification of Druggable Targets for Cancer Therapy-Induced Cardiotoxicity
Funded at Stanford University · NIH-11297105 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A Stanford-led study aims to find heart-protective targets to prevent cardiovascular problems caused by cancer drugs in patients.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Stanford University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stanford, United States) |
| Project start | July 15, 2026 |
| Project end | March 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $770,603 |
| NIH project number | 1R01HL178528-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11297105 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with cancer who may receive proteasome inhibitors like bortezomib, carfilzomib, or ixazomib.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not receiving proteasome inhibitors or without heart-related complications from these drugs.
What this research studies
This project will study how proteasome inhibitors used in cancer treatment can damage the heart. Researchers will use patient-derived heart cell models and 3D heart organoids to understand how these drugs affect heart cells and blood vessels. They will also examine a mouse model and apply advanced single-cell techniques to map how heart cells communicate during drug exposure. The goal is to pinpoint targets that could be blocked or supported to reduce heart toxicity while preserving cancer-fighting effects.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to new strategies that protect heart health for cancer patients receiving proteasome inhibitors.
How similar studies have gone: Similar approaches using iPSC-derived heart cells and organoids have yielded insights into drug-induced heart toxicity, with promising avenues for protective targets.
Where this research is happening
-
Stanford University
Stanford, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wu, Joseph C. — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: Wu, Joseph C.
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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.