Innovative glycan-based tools to find cancer biomarkers
Official title: Innovative glycan-specific reagents to accelerate the detection of disease biomarkers
Funded at Lectenz Bio, INC. · NIH-11509377 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new project will create highly specific sugar-targeting reagents to help detect cancer biomarkers more accurately.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Lectenz Bio, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Athens, United States) |
| Project start | July 18, 2025 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,044,652 |
| NIH project number | 4R44GM159548-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11509377 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with cancers where high-mannose glycan biomarkers are relevant, particularly breast and other solid tumors referenced in the project.
✕Less likely to help
If the biomarkers are not present or not detectable by the new reagents, patients may not benefit.
What this research studies
If this works, patients could benefit from earlier and more precise cancer biomarker detection through specially engineered binding proteins called Lectenz®. The team will re-engineer an enzyme to bind high-mannose glycans with high affinity, enabling sensitive tests that focus on cancer-related markers. The work involves protein design, testing in lab assays, and collaboration with a company to develop usable detection reagents. Participation would be logical for patients with cancers where these biomarkers are relevant, especially those involved in biomarker-based screening or precision diagnostics.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Potentially faster and more accurate cancer biomarker tests that could guide diagnosis and treatment decisions.
How similar studies have gone: Similar engineered reagents have shown promise in early testing, suggesting potential but requiring further validation.
Where this research is happening
-
Lectenz Bio, INC.
Athens, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bendzunas, George Nathaniel — Lectenz Bio, INC.
- Study coordinator: Bendzunas, George Nathaniel
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Creating new tools to detect specific sugars in biological samples
This study is working on creating special tools that can better find and analyze certain sugars in the body that are important for understanding diseases, helping scientists and doctors improve how they diagnose and study health conditions.
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Monitoring sugar modifications in protein production
This study is testing a new method called GlycoSenseTM to make it easier and faster to check the sugar structures on therapeutic proteins, which helps ensure these treatments are safe and effective for patients.
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.