Targeting drug-resistant multiple myeloma cells
Characterize Drug Resistance in Multiple Myeloma
This project looks for markers of myeloma cells that survive treatment and uses them to create new therapies for people whose multiple myeloma comes back after treatment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Central Arkansas Veterans Hlthcare Sys NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (North Little Rock, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11206942 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You will hear about work that examines individual myeloma cells from patients to find the proteins and gene-control regions that let some cells survive therapy. Scientists will use single-cell multi-omics, ATAC-seq, and large-scale protein profiling to build a protein risk score (PEP60) and map regulatory features of resistant cells. They will test engineered bispecific CAR T cells that target BCMA and CD24 to see if those immune cells can eliminate drug-resistant myeloma cells in preclinical models. The aim is to turn these findings into treatments that reduce the chance of relapse by removing the cells most likely to cause the disease to return.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with multiple myeloma—especially those who have relapsed, have high-risk disease features, or are candidates for CAR T–type approaches—would be most relevant.
Not a fit: People without multiple myeloma or those whose disease is already well controlled and not driven by resistant clones are unlikely to benefit directly.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could enable treatments that specifically remove drug-resistant myeloma cells and lower the risk of relapse.
How similar studies have performed: BCMA-directed CAR T therapies and molecular profiling have shown promise in myeloma, but combining proteomic risk scores with bispecific CAR T targeting of resistant cells is a newer approach.
Where this research is happening
North Little Rock, United States
- Central Arkansas Veterans Hlthcare Sys — North Little Rock, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zhan, Fenghuang — Central Arkansas Veterans Hlthcare Sys
- Study coordinator: Zhan, Fenghuang
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.