Targeting SATB2 to Reduce Racial Gaps in Liver Cancer
Official title: Elimination Racial Disparities in Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Funded at Glax, LLC · NIH-11290345 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aimed at understanding why African American patients with hepatocellular carcinoma have worse outcomes and testing new approaches to tailor therapies for this group.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Glax, LLC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Wilmington, United States) |
| Project start | March 26, 2024 |
| Project end | February 28, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,001,965 |
| NIH project number | 5R44MD019234-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11290345 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are African American adults diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma whose tumors show SATB2-related molecular features or related pathways.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose tumors do not involve the SATB2 pathway or related targets may not experience a direct benefit from this work.
What this research studies
This project focuses on hepatocellular carcinoma in African American patients, exploring how environmental factors, access to care, and genetics may drive tumor growth. Researchers plan to identify druggable pathways that are more active in AA patients, validate their importance in cancer biology, and develop new treatment candidates. The work will use molecular analyses to study SATB2, a gene linked to cancer stem cell behavior, and its role in liver cancer disparities. If successful, these efforts could lead to therapies that are better matched to the biology of tumors in AA patients. The study is conducted through Glax, LLC, with a focus on translating molecular findings into potential new treatments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the project could lead to therapies that specifically address liver cancer disparities and improve survival for African American patients.
How similar studies have gone: Prior research has linked SATB2 to cancer biology, and this project builds on evidence that tumor biology differs across populations, with potential for new targeted therapies.
Where this research is happening
-
Glax, LLC
Wilmington, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Srivastava, Rakesh K. — Glax, LLC
- Study coordinator: Srivastava, Rakesh K.
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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.