Tracking rapid protein interactions that drive cancer

Mapping Dynamic Changes in Protein Interactome using Proximity Labeling with High Temporal Resolution

NIH-funded research University of Illinois at Chicago · NIH-11252879

Builds faster lab tools to capture very short-lived protein connections in cancer cells so researchers can find better treatment targets.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Illinois at Chicago NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Chicago, UNITED STATES)
Project IDNIH-11252879 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This project will develop lab methods that quickly tag proteins that are near each other inside living cancer cells, capturing interactions that happen in under a minute. The team will improve a biotin-based labeling approach so weak or transient protein partners can be detected with much better sensitivity. These tools are meant for use in cell and tissue samples to reveal how cancer signals are assembled and disassembled. Better maps of these interactions could point researchers to new targets for drug development.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Patients would not be directly enrolled in this lab-focused project, but people with cancer who donate tumor or tissue samples to related research could contribute.

Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate changes in their own treatment are unlikely to see direct benefit from this early-stage laboratory methods work.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the tools could speed discovery of important cancer targets and help guide the development of more precise therapies.

How similar studies have performed: Proximity labeling (e.g., BioID/TurboID) is an established technique for mapping protein partners, but achieving reliable labeling on minute-or-faster timescales is novel and less proven.

Where this research is happening

Chicago, UNITED STATES

Researchers

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 below.
Conditions Cancer TreatmentCancers
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 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.