Safer NMDA‑targeting antibodies for triple‑negative breast cancer
Official title: Optimizing Anti-NMDAR Antibodies for Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Therapy
Funded at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory · NIH-11321259 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Developing new antibodies that target NMDA receptors to kill triple‑negative breast cancer cells while avoiding harmful brain side effects.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cold Spring Harbor, United States) |
| Project start | April 14, 2025 |
| Project end | March 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $781,436 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA300691-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11321259 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with triple‑negative breast cancer whose tumors show high NMDA receptor expression would be the most likely future candidates for these therapies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose tumors do not express NMDA receptors, those with other breast cancer subtypes, or those needing immediate standard treatments are unlikely to benefit directly from this preclinical project.
What this research studies
From a patient's perspective, researchers are trying to create antibodies that stick to NMDA receptors found on many triple‑negative breast cancer tumors and kill those cancer cells. They will use high‑resolution imaging (single‑particle cryo‑EM) to spot structural changes in the receptor that link antibodies to dangerous brain inflammation and then select antibodies that avoid those changes. Promising candidates will be tested in engineered mouse breast cancer models that mimic NMDA‑positive tumors to check for tumor killing and safety. The goal is to find antibody designs that could move toward human testing without causing the neurological problems seen with some anti‑NMDA immune responses.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to antibody treatments that shrink or eliminate NMDA‑positive triple‑negative breast tumors without causing severe neurological toxicity.
How similar studies have gone: Laboratory and clinical reports show anti‑NMDAR antibodies can kill tumor cells but have caused severe brain inflammation, so this project is novel in trying to separate anti‑tumor action from neurological harm.
Where this research is happening
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Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Cold Spring Harbor, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Janowitz, Tobias — Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
- Study coordinator: Janowitz, Tobias
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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.