Targeting STRAP to curb NSCLC spread with nanoparticle therapy
Official title: Non-small cell lung cancer nanotherapy targeting STRAP
Funded at University of Alabama at Birmingham · NIH-11447387 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aimed at non-small cell lung cancer, this grant tests how blocking a protein called STRAP with nanoparticles could slow cancer spread and make chemotherapy work better.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Alabama at Birmingham NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Birmingham, United States) |
| Project start | September 7, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $493,697 |
| NIH project number | 1R01CA315252-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11447387 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with non-small cell lung cancer, particularly those with tumors showing STRAP activity or overexpression.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without STRAP-driven tumor biology or those not receiving nanoparticle-based therapies may see little benefit.
What this research studies
Researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham will study STRAP, a protein linked to lung cancer progression, using cell lines and animal models to see if nanoparticle-delivered therapies can weaken STRAP signaling. They will examine how STRAP interacts with major cancer pathways like Wnt/beta-catenin and MEK/ERK, and whether blocking STRAP makes tumors more sensitive to standard chemotherapy. The work includes in vivo experiments to test whether STRAP-targeted nanoparticles reduce tumor growth and metastasis when used alone or with chemotherapy. If the approach works, it could point to a new way to improve outcomes for patients with NSCLC. The project builds on preliminary data showing STRAP’s role in chemosensitivity and metastatic behavior in lung cancer models.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could lead to more effective NSCLC treatments by preventing metastasis and enhancing chemotherapy response.
How similar studies have gone: Early preclinical results suggest that targeting STRAP can affect cancer signaling and chemosensitivity, but clinical effectiveness remains to be proven.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Datta, Pran K — University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Study coordinator: Datta, Pran 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.