Targeting the body's lipid transporters to boost immune defense and fight cancer
Official title: Structural dynamics of sphingosine-1-phosphate transporters as key therapeutic targets for immune system modulation and cancer
Funded at Saint Louis University · NIH-11364204 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A scientist team at Saint Louis University is studying how specific lipid transporters (Spns2) move a key signal (S1P) in our bodies, with the goal of finding new ways to modulate the immune system and reduce cancer spread.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Saint Louis University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project start | September 20, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $387,737 |
| NIH project number | 5R01GM145783-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11364204 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with cancers where S1P signaling and lymphocyte movement are involved, potentially benefiting from future therapies that modulate Spns2.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose cancers do not rely on S1P signaling or Spns2 function may not benefit from this approach.
What this research studies
This grant explores how the Spns2 transporter controls S1P movement across cell membranes and how that impacts immune cell behavior and tumor spread. Researchers will map the transporter’s structure and how it changes to shuttle S1P, aiming to identify drug targets that could adjust signaling in diseases where the immune system and cancer interact. The work combines structural biology with cellular experiments to understand how Spns2 affects lymphocyte egress and metastasis. If successful, the findings could guide the development of therapies that enhance immunotherapy or limit cancer spread by tweaking S1P signaling.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could lead to new treatments that boost immunotherapy effectiveness and reduce cancer metastasis by targeting Spns2 and S1P signaling.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies show that modulating S1P transport can affect immune cell movement and metastasis in models, supporting this approach as promising but still exploratory.
Where this research is happening
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Saint Louis University
Saint Louis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dastvan, Reza — Saint Louis University
- Study coordinator: Dastvan, Reza
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.