Improving tiny 'nanobody' antibodies to make targeted radiation safer
Modifying the Single Domain Antibody Framework as Platform for Enhanced Radiotherapy
This project tries to redesign very small antibodies so they can carry radiation directly to harmful immune cells in autoimmune diseases while reducing side effects.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Alabama at Birmingham NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Birmingham, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11243555 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will retool single-domain 'nanobody' antibodies to keep strong binding to disease targets but clear quickly from the blood. The modified nanobodies will be labeled with radioactive particles and tested in lab assays and animal models to measure how well they bind targets and where the radioactivity travels in the body. The team will specifically look for ways to lower kidney retention and other off-target radiation while keeping effective delivery to disease sites. Success here would support later steps toward human testing of more precise targeted radiotherapies for inflammatory and autoimmune conditions.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with autoimmune or inflammatory conditions that might be treated by targeted radiotherapy would be the eventual candidates, though this grant funds early lab-stage work rather than enrolling patients now.
Not a fit: Patients without autoimmune or inflammatory diseases, or those whose care does not involve targeted radiation approaches, are unlikely to benefit from this specific preclinical work in the short term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could enable more precise radiation-based treatments that kill disease-causing cells with fewer systemic side effects and less kidney exposure.
How similar studies have performed: Nanobodies and targeted radiotherapies have shown promise in clinical settings, but altering nanobody frameworks to reduce kidney retention for radiotherapy is a relatively new and early-stage approach.
Where this research is happening
Birmingham, United States
- University of Alabama at Birmingham — Birmingham, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Larimer, Benjamin M — University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Study coordinator: Larimer, Benjamin M
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.