Multi-organ breast cancer model using patient-like tissues to speed anti-metastatic drug development
Official title: Multi-organ metastatic breast cancer cell-based assay platform that models organotropic metastases using patient organoids in human tissue-derived ECMs to accelerate anti-metastatic drug development
Funded at Xylyx Bio, INC. · NIH-11352532 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A small business grant is funding the creation of a lab model that mimics how breast cancer spreads to bone, liver, and lung so new anti-metastatic drugs can be developed faster.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Xylyx Bio, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Brooklyn, United States) |
| Project start | June 6, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,003,395 |
| NIH project number | 5R44CA287881-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11352532 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with breast cancer at risk of metastasis or with metastatic disease whose tumors could be represented in organ-specific ECMs.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without metastasis or whose disease is localized may not directly benefit from this model.
What this research studies
This project plans to build a 3-D, cell-based platform that uses patient-derived organoids and human tissue-derived ECMs to reproduce organ-specific metastasis. Researchers will validate the model against patient data to ensure it reflects real disease patterns. If successful, the platform could be used to screen potential drugs that prevent or slow metastasis in multiple organs. The grant is aimed at accelerating drug discovery by providing a more predictive test bed before clinical trials.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could speed the development of effective anti-metastatic drugs for breast cancer, potentially improving survival and quality of life.
How similar studies have gone: Previous in-vitro models often fail to predict organ-specific metastasis; this approach aims to improve prediction fidelity.
Where this research is happening
-
Xylyx Bio, INC.
Brooklyn, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: O'neill, John David — Xylyx Bio, INC.
- Study coordinator: O'neill, John David
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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.