Targeted anti-cancer drugs to match tumor profiles
Official title: Developing a Suite of Targeted Anticancer Drugs
Funded at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign · NIH-11411334 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A research effort to create a toolkit of personalized cancer drugs that could be matched to a patient’s tumor profile.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Champaign, United States) |
| Project start | September 20, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $767,885 |
| NIH project number | 5R35CA283859-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11411334 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients whose tumors have specific molecular defects that could be matched with targeted drugs.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose tumor biology does not align with the drugs developed or who cannot tolerate targeted therapies may see limited benefit.
What this research studies
This project aims to build a platform that creates and tests targeted cancer drugs across cell lines and animal models, with the goal of translating promising compounds into treatments for patients. The work covers synthesis, cell culture, target identification, and preclinical models to identify which drugs work best for specific tumor defects. By combining tumor profiling with a suite of selective drugs, the research seeks to move toward more personalized, effective cancer care. The team has a track record of moving compounds toward patients and will translate discoveries through to early clinical testing where appropriate.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the platform could lead to more precisely matched therapies for cancer patients, potentially improving response rates and outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Previous targeted therapies have transformed care for some subtypes, though a broad, scalable platform for many targets remains to be realized.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Champaign, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hergenrother, Paul — University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
- Study coordinator: Hergenrother, Paul
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.