Safer cancer drugs that target the Hsp90 protein
Engineering the Next Generation of Safer Hsp90 Inhibitors
Developing new drugs that block the Hsp90 protein to treat tumors while aiming to cause fewer side effects for people with cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Notre Dame NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Notre Dame, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11249971 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient perspective, researchers are designing and optimizing new molecules that bind a specific part of the Hsp90 protein believed to avoid harmful side effects seen with earlier drugs. They will test these compounds in laboratory models and carry out preclinical safety and chemistry studies needed for an investigational new drug (IND) application. The team plans to pick the best candidates and perform detailed toxicity and dosing studies to prepare for future clinical testing. If the work succeeds, it moves these drugs closer to early human trials.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates in future trials would be adults with cancers that show high Hsp90 activity and who meet eligibility for early-phase clinical trials.
Not a fit: Patients whose tumors do not depend on Hsp90 or who cannot tolerate early-phase trials are less likely to benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, these drugs could treat tumors that rely on Hsp90 while reducing the dose-limiting toxicities that halted earlier Hsp90 drugs.
How similar studies have performed: Earlier Hsp90 inhibitors reached clinical trials and showed tumor targeting but caused significant toxicities and Hsp90 induction, while targeting the Hsp90 C-terminal domain is a newer approach with encouraging preclinical data but limited human testing so far.
Where this research is happening
Notre Dame, United States
- University of Notre Dame — Notre Dame, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Blagg, Brian S J — University of Notre Dame
- Study coordinator: Blagg, Brian S J
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 below.