Understanding how a protein called GAPDHS affects melanoma spread

Investigating the role of GAPDHS in melanoma metabolism and metastasis

NIH-funded research Ut Southwestern Medical Center · NIH-11118891

This project looks at how a specific protein called GAPDHS influences how melanoma cancer cells grow and spread, hoping to find new ways to predict and treat this skin cancer.

Quick facts

Grant typeCareer grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUt Southwestern Medical Center NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Dallas, United States)
Project IDNIH-11118891 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

Melanoma is a serious skin cancer that can spread quickly to other parts of the body, and we don't fully understand how it adapts to new environments. Our team recently found a protein, GAPDHS, that seems to slow down melanoma's ability to spread. We want to learn exactly how GAPDHS works within cancer cells to stop them from spreading. This includes looking at its role in how cancer cells get energy and whether its presence can tell us if a patient's melanoma is likely to progress.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: This foundational research is not directly recruiting patients at this stage, but future clinical applications would likely focus on individuals diagnosed with melanoma.

Not a fit: Patients without melanoma or those seeking immediate treatment options would not directly benefit from this early-stage laboratory research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new ways to predict how melanoma will progress and potentially new treatments that target the cancer's metabolism to stop its spread.

How similar studies have performed: While the specific role of GAPDHS in melanoma is novel, other research has shown that understanding cancer cell metabolism can lead to new treatment strategies.

Where this research is happening

Dallas, 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 Cancers
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.