Platform to Target and Degrade Disease-Causing Proteins
Official title: Induced-Proximity Platform to Control Cellular Signaling and Proteostasis
Funded at University of Toledo Health Sci Campus · NIH-11606496 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new approach uses smart molecules to degrade harmful proteins that traditional drugs can’t touch, potentially benefiting people with diseases linked to those proteins.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Toledo Health Sci Campus NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Toledo, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2025 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $248,999 |
| NIH project number | 4R00GM159057-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11606496 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals whose diseases involve proteins currently considered undruggable and who may benefit from future degrader-based therapies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without diseases related to targetable undruggable proteins or those who would not be eligible for future trials based on specific biomarkers may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project aims to make it easier to target proteins that were previously hard to drug by using event-driven pharmacology. It develops two platforms: a group-transfer method that quickly repurposes known inhibitors into targeting components, and a new class of degraders that can recruit cell machinery in novel ways to overcome resistance. The work is conducted using laboratory experiments and cellular models to test how well these strategies can degrade disease-linked proteins. If successful, it could expand treatment options for patients whose conditions involve hard-to-drug proteins. The grant supports the transition from concept to early validation, with attention to safety and potential translational pathways.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients with diseases driven by undruggable proteins could gain new therapies that degrade harmful proteins rather than just inhibit them.
How similar studies have gone: Other studies in event-driven pharmacology have shown promise in degrading disease-causing proteins, though practical, resistance-proof platforms are still being developed.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Toledo Health Sci Campus
Toledo, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Karaj, Endri — University of Toledo Health Sci Campus
- Study coordinator: Karaj, Endri
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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.