Tools to target NEK proteins linked to cancer
Identification and characterization of chemical probes for interrogation of the NEK family of kinases in cancer
Researchers are making lab-tested compounds and cell models to help scientists target NEK proteins that can drive some cancers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11170499 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
The team will design and synthesize selective small molecules (chemical probes) that bind NEK family proteins and test them in cellular assays to confirm target engagement. They will use medicinal chemistry and modern cell-based target engagement methods to optimize potency and selectivity. The project also creates inducible NEK knockdown cell lines so researchers can compare chemical and genetic effects. All compounds, assays, and reagents will be shared freely to help other scientists translate findings toward cancer treatments.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients with cancers known or suspected to involve NEK-family alterations, or those willing to donate tumor samples for lab research, would be most relevant to this work.
Not a fit: Patients with cancers unrelated to NEK biology or those looking for immediate clinical benefit are unlikely to gain direct treatment effects from this lab-focused project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, these new research tools could speed discovery of targeted therapies for cancers driven by NEK proteins.
How similar studies have performed: Kinase-targeting drugs have produced many successful cancer therapies, but high-quality chemical probes specific to the NEK family are still limited and this work is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
Chapel Hill, United States
- Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill — Chapel Hill, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Drewry, David Harold — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Drewry, David Harold
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 below.