Making medicines that target specific forms of Casein Kinase 1

Computer-aided design and development of isoform selective inhibitors of Casein Kinase 1

NIH-funded research Queens College · NIH-11322635

Researchers are using computer design and chemistry to create drugs that block specific forms of Casein Kinase 1 to help people with diseases linked to abnormal CK1 activity.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionQueens College NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Flushing, United States)
Project IDNIH-11322635 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This project will use computer models to design molecules that fit particular CK1 enzyme forms, then chemists will make those molecules in the lab. The compounds will be tested in biochemical assays and cell-based experiments to see how well they bind and block each CK1 isoform. Promising candidates will be optimized for greater selectivity and fewer off-target effects. The work is preclinical, focused on finding tool compounds that could lead to future patient therapies or trials.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: People with cancers or other conditions thought to be driven by abnormal CK1 signaling would be the most likely candidates for future trials stemming from this work.

Not a fit: Patients without CK1-related conditions or those seeking immediate treatment are unlikely to benefit from this early laboratory research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to more precise drugs that target disease-related CK1 forms with fewer side effects than broad kinase inhibitors.

How similar studies have performed: Computer-aided drug design has produced selective kinase drugs before, but truly isoform-selective inhibitors for CK1 are rare, so this is a promising yet relatively novel approach for CK1.

Where this research is happening

Flushing, 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.