NIH-funded research R01 grant

Targeting OST Redundancy to Treat Osteosarcoma

Official title: Targeting Oligosaccharyltransferse Redundancy for the Treatment of Osteosarcoma

Funded at Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences · NIH-11426739 · Data updated 2026-11-12

A study in people with advanced bone cancer to see if new OST-targeting drugs can slow or stop tumor growth.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionRutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Newark, UNITED STATES)
Project startJuly 13, 2026
Project endJune 30, 2031
Funding year2026
Award (this year)$550,084
NIH project number1R01CA315897-01
Project IDNIH-11426739 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Ideal candidates are individuals with advanced osteosarcoma or related bone cancers who may benefit from future OST-targeted treatments.

Less likely to help

Patients without osteosarcoma or those whose cancer does not respond to OST-targeted strategies may not benefit.

What this research studies

This project focuses on osteosarcoma, a tough pediatric/adolescent cancer. Researchers will optimize small molecules that inhibit the oligosaccharyltransferase (OST) enzyme to selectively attack cancer cells while sparing normal cells. They will work on improving how long the drugs last in the body, how strong they are, how well they dissolve, and which OST subunit they target. The work combines cell-based experiments and animal models to identify lead drug candidates that could move toward early human testing.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, patients with osteosarcoma could receive more effective and tolerable targeted therapies.

How similar studies have gone: Preclinical data show OST inhibitors can halt tumor growth in cells and reduce tumors in animal models, suggesting potential but needs clinical confirmation.

Where this research is happening

  • Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences
    Newark, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Contessa, Joseph N — Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences
  • Study coordinator: Contessa, Joseph N

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.