Targeting LAT1 in cancer with new non-amino acid inhibitors
Official title: A dual approach for targeting LAT1 in cancer: Assay innovation and non-amino acid inhibitor development
Funded at Southern Illinois Univ at Edwardsville · NIH-11423992 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A cancer-focused project aims to block LAT1 transporters using new non-amino acid compounds to slow cancer growth with fewer side effects.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Southern Illinois Univ at Edwardsville NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Edwardsville, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2026 |
| Project end | April 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $144,500 |
| NIH project number | 1R16GM166333-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11423992 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with cancers that overexpress LAT1 and could benefit from LAT1-targeted therapy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with cancers that do not rely on LAT1 or cannot tolerate this type of treatment.
What this research studies
This project focuses on LAT1, a transporter that cancers rely on to take in essential amino acids. Researchers will create non-amino acid inhibitors that block LAT1 in a way that minimizes impact on similar transporters. They will also develop fluorescence-based assays to screen and measure inhibitor strength. The goal is to produce potent, cancer-selective inhibitors that patients could eventually benefit from. The work will be conducted at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville under the guidance of Dr. Joseph M. Schober.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients with LAT1-overexpressing cancers could have new targeted treatments with potentially fewer side effects.
How similar studies have gone: Previous LAT1 inhibitors exist but have limitations; this project emphasizes non-amino acid inhibitors and non-competitive mechanisms which is a newer approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Southern Illinois Univ at Edwardsville
Edwardsville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Schober, Joseph Martin — Southern Illinois Univ at Edwardsville
- Study coordinator: Schober, Joseph 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.