Investigating small molecules that target specific proteins in leukemia cells

Modulate Cullin-RING E3 ubiquitin ligases by small molecule agents

NIH-funded research Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai · NIH-10880378

This study is looking at new ways to create small drugs that can help fight certain types of leukemia by targeting a specific protein that can be harmful when it's not working properly, and they want to see how well these drugs work in lab tests and animal models.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionIcahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (New York, United States)
Project IDNIH-10880378 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research focuses on developing small molecule agents that inhibit a specific protein complex known as Cullin-RING E3 ubiquitin ligase 4 (CRL4), which has been found to be toxic to certain leukemia cell lines with low levels of a component called cullin 4. The researchers aim to enhance these inhibitors through synthetic chemistry and to understand how they work at a molecular level. Additionally, they will create pre-clinical models using cells and animals to test the effectiveness of these inhibitors against leukemia characterized by low cullin 4 levels. This approach could lead to more targeted and effective treatments for specific types of leukemia.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are patients diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) who have low levels of cullin 4 expression.

Not a fit: Patients with leukemia types that do not express low levels of cullin 4 may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new, targeted therapies for patients with certain types of leukemia, potentially improving treatment outcomes.

How similar studies have performed: Other research has shown promise in targeting similar protein complexes for cancer treatment, suggesting that this approach could be effective.

Where this research is happening

New York, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.