New ways to use microRNAs for cancer treatment

Precision microRNA medicine in cancer

NIH-funded research Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center · NIH-11137612

This project aims to find new ways to use tiny molecules called microRNAs to both detect and treat various types of cancer.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionBeth Israel Deaconess Medical Center NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Boston, United States)
Project IDNIH-11137612 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

Our bodies have tiny molecules called microRNAs that help control how our cells grow and behave, and sometimes they go wrong in cancer. This project looks for specific microRNAs that are out of balance in human cancers and explores how they contribute to the disease. We will test these findings using advanced lab models, including those made from patient samples, to understand their roles. The goal is to develop new strategies that use these microRNAs as tools for finding cancer early and for creating new treatments.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Patients with various types of cancer might eventually benefit from new diagnostic tools or treatments developed from this research.

Not a fit: Patients whose cancers do not involve the specific microRNA pathways being explored in this foundational research may not directly benefit.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to more precise ways to diagnose cancer and develop new, effective microRNA-based therapies.

How similar studies have performed: While the concept of targeting RNA molecules for therapy is an emerging field, previous work has shown some initial success in delivering these molecules to cancer tissues.

Where this research is happening

Boston, 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 Cancer Genes
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.