Illumine: uncovering the hidden proteins linked to cancer
Official title: ILLUMINE - Dark Proteome
Funded at Broad Institute, INC. · NIH-11506681 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A research team is studying a mysterious group of proteins called the dark proteome to understand how they arise, how they behave in cancer, and whether they could be targeted for new treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Broad Institute, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cambridge, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2026 |
| Project end | April 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $703,710 |
| NIH project number | 1OT2CA320187-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11506681 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with cancer or related conditions whose tumors may involve dark proteome biology could be future beneficiaries of translating these findings.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose cancers do not involve dark proteome mechanisms may see little direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project aims to map and understand the dark proteome, a set of non-standard proteins not explained by usual DNA instructions. Researchers will explore how these proteins are produced, regulated, and what roles they play in normal tissues and cancers. They will combine cancer biology, proteomics, genomics, chemistry, technology development, and efforts toward translating findings to patient care. The work will address who these dark proteome players are, how they are (dys)regulated in cancer, how they function, and whether they can be used to develop new therapies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new therapeutic targets and strategies for cancer treatment.
How similar studies have gone: This is a novel area with emerging early findings, building on proteomics and cancer biology work.
Where this research is happening
-
Broad Institute, INC.
Cambridge, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Abelin, Jenn — Broad Institute, INC.
- Study coordinator: Abelin, Jenn
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.