Mapping the protein networks that drive cancer

Project 1: Systematic Physical and Spatial Mapping of Cancer Driver Networks

NIH-funded research University of California, San Francisco · NIH-11169867

This project builds detailed maps of how genes and proteins interact across different tumors to help find new targets for cancer treatment.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of California, San Francisco NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (San Francisco, United States)
Project IDNIH-11169867 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This effort combines tumor genomic data with protein-level and spatial measurements to chart how cancer driver pathways are wired in individual tumors and across cancer types. Researchers will use large-scale proteomics, imaging and high-resolution structural methods to identify physical interactions and where proteins sit in tumor tissue. The team integrates those maps with existing genetic data to reveal converging pathways that may be missed by looking at mutations alone. Work will rely on patient-derived tumor samples and shared datasets to create resources that clinicians and researchers can use.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: People with cancer who can provide tumor tissue or agree to let their tumor genomic or proteomic data be used for research would be the best fit.

Not a fit: Patients seeking an immediate new treatment are unlikely to benefit directly, since this is a research mapping project rather than a therapeutic trial.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the maps could point to new drug targets and biomarkers that guide more precise cancer treatments.

How similar studies have performed: Previous genomic and network-mapping projects have identified key cancer pathways, but this large-scale integration of spatial proteomics and structural mapping is a newer and less-tested approach.

Where this research is happening

San Francisco, 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.
Conditions Atlas of Cancer Mortality in the United States
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.