Improving chemotherapy by reducing drug accumulation in healthy tissues
Official title: Reducing Off-Target Accumulation of Chemotherapeutic Nanomedicines
Funded at University of Colorado Denver · NIH-11050379 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at a new way to make chemotherapy work better and cause fewer side effects by using a natural immune response, which could help cancer patients get more effective treatment while protecting their healthy tissues.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Colorado Denver NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Aurora, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | March 1, 2025 |
| Project end | February 28, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $375,134 |
| NIH project number | 1R01CA289447-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11050379 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy who are at risk of experiencing significant side effects from their treatment.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not currently receiving chemotherapy or those with non-cancerous conditions may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates a new method to enhance chemotherapy effectiveness while minimizing side effects. It focuses on using a natural immune response to limit the accumulation of chemotherapy drugs in healthy tissues, allowing more of the drug to target tumors. The approach involves the use of a specific molecule, IFN-λ, which has shown promise in preclinical models to reduce toxicity and improve survival rates in tumor-bearing mice. By optimizing the delivery and timing of this treatment, the research aims to create a safer and more effective chemotherapy regimen for cancer patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to chemotherapy treatments that are more effective against tumors while causing fewer adverse effects in healthy tissues.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown success in using immune responses to enhance drug delivery and reduce side effects, indicating that this approach has potential.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Colorado Denver
Aurora, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Anchordoquy, Thomas — University of Colorado Denver
- Study coordinator: Anchordoquy, Thomas
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.