SpliceDisco: A ML tool to find cancer splice targets for therapy
Official title: SpliceDisco: A Machine Learning Tool for the Identification of Alternative Splicing Events Directly Regulated by Pathological Splicing Factors in Cancer
Funded at Envisagenics, INC. · NIH-11313545 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new AI tool helps identify cancer-spanning splice events that could be targeted by immune-based therapies, focusing on breast cancer and other cancers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Envisagenics, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Long Island City, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | August 1, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $889,653 |
| NIH project number | 1R44CA310213-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11313545 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates include patients with breast cancer, NSCLC, CRC, or AML whose tumors exhibit splicing-related abnormalities.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without tumors driven by RNA splicing errors or without access to IO therapies may not benefit directly.
What this research studies
This project will create the SpliceDisco algorithm to map how pathological splicing factors drive tumor-specific RNA changes. By linking splicing events directly to cancer processes, the tool aims to spotlight targets for immuno-oncology therapies. The work builds on existing software to improve accuracy in finding relevant splice targets in breast cancer, NSCLC, CRC, and AML. It is designed to accelerate understanding of cancer biology and inform future therapeutic development.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could benefit from more precise immunotherapies that target tumor-specific splice variants.
How similar studies have gone: Previous tools have shown promise in identifying splice-related targets, but this project focuses on direct links to pathological splicing factors for therapy.
Where this research is happening
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Envisagenics, INC.
Long Island City, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Akerman, Martin — Envisagenics, INC.
- Study coordinator: Akerman, Martin
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.