Imputing surface proteins to map cancer tumors in 3D tissue
Official title: Integrative framework for surface protein imputation for spatial biology of cancer
Funded at University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · NIH-11566348 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers will develop a way to predict which surface proteins appear in tumor tissues by combining spatial gene data with protein information to better understand cancer behavior.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2025 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $100,083 |
| NIH project number | 3R21CA294196-01A1S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11566348 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with solid tumors where spatial profiling of tumors is clinically relevant and where tissue samples are available for analysis.
✕Less likely to help
This research does not involve a direct patient intervention; it relies on existing or donated tissue samples and computational analyses.
What this research studies
This project aims to fill gaps in spatial biology by predicting missing surface protein data from spatial transcriptomics in tumor samples. Using cross-platform analysis and advanced machine learning, researchers plan to infer protein abundance while considering tissue location and histology. The work could help translate complex tumor ecosystems into clearer biological targets for therapy and improve how we interpret tumor composition in patient samples.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could benefit from more accurate tumor profiling that informs personalized treatment decisions and new therapeutic strategies.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work on integrating spatial transcriptomics with protein data is promising, but the specific cross-platform protein imputation in cancer is an emerging area.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Osmanbeyoglu, Hatice Ulku — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Osmanbeyoglu, Hatice Ulku
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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.