Small drug-like chemicals and engineered genetic tools to target cancer pathways
SMALL-MOLECULE AND NUCLEIC ACID ENGINEERING TOWARD MOLECULAR DESIGNS OF THERAPEUTIC POTENTIAL
Researchers are creating tiny drug-like chemicals and stabilized genetic molecules to attack cancer-related RNAs and to boost immune pathways for people with cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rutgers, the State Univ of N.j. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Piscataway, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11176871 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project makes specialized small molecules that bind and trigger breakdown of cancer-associated RNA structures, and it designs engineered nucleic acid polymers that act like stable molecular scissors or immune activators. The team will build ligand-heterocycle conjugates to selectively degrade G-quadruplex RNAs linked to cancer and create (thio)phosphoramidate backbones as biostable ribozyme mimics. They will also develop cyclic dinucleotide agonists to stimulate the cGAS–STING immune pathway and programmable NAzymes that cleave target RNAs when activated by disease-related biochemical signals. All testing will be done in the lab and in cellular models to measure selectivity, stability, and activity before any future animal or human work.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients with cancers driven by the specific RNA structures or tumors likely to respond to cGAS–STING activation would be the most relevant candidates for future trials of these approaches.
Not a fit: People with non-cancer conditions or cancers not linked to the targeted RNA structures or immune pathways are unlikely to benefit from this preclinical work in the near term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to more precise, longer-lasting therapies that target cancer RNAs or safely stimulate anti-tumor immunity, potentially improving effectiveness and reducing side effects.
How similar studies have performed: Related approaches such as RNA-targeting degraders and STING agonists have shown promise in preclinical studies and early clinical trials, but the specific engineered nucleic acid catalysts and biostable designs proposed here are novel and largely untested in humans.
Where this research is happening
Piscataway, United States
- Rutgers, the State Univ of N.j. — Piscataway, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Izgu, Enver C — Rutgers, the State Univ of N.j.
- Study coordinator: Izgu, Enver C
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.