Targeting aberrant enhancer landscapes in pancreatic cancer
Funded at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital · NIH-11611138 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A patient-facing look at a project that aims to understand how pancreatic cancer changes its cell identity and what that means for treatment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | St. Jude Children's Research Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Memphis, United States) |
| Project start | July 2, 2019 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $416,250 |
| NIH project number | 7R01CA229699-08 |
| Project ID | NIH-11611138 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma or those with tumors showing lineage changes related to basal identity.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose disease biology does not involve the basal cell state or related transcriptional programs may see limited relevance.
What this research studies
This project studies how pancreatic cancer cells change their fate and become more resistant to treatment by exploring changes in their gene regulation. Researchers use advanced genetic screens and epigenomic methods in models that resemble human disease to uncover the key factors driving this process. They will investigate specific transcription factors that control cancer cell identity and test how altering them could disrupt cancer maintenance. The work focuses on the basal cell state in pancreatic cancer and seeks to understand a master regulator called MED12 and its connection to other factors like ∆Np63. Overall, the goal is to reveal actionable details that could guide future therapies for pancreatic cancer patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could lead to new strategies to prevent or overcome treatment resistance and metastasis in pancreatic cancer.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has identified transcription factors that drive basal identity in PDAC, with ongoing research suggesting targeting these regulators may be feasible.
Where this research is happening
-
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
Memphis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Vakoc, Christopher — St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
- Study coordinator: Vakoc, Christopher
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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.