Understanding how BRAF and its partners drive cancer
Structure, mechanism, and pharmacology of BRAF and its partners in the RAS/RAF/MAP kinase pathway
Researchers are working out how the BRAF protein and its partners behave in cancers like melanoma so future drugs can target them more safely and effectively.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Dana-Farber Cancer Inst NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11173600 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project uses lab-based structural biology, biochemistry, and biophysical methods to study the BRAF protein and its interactions in the RAS/MAPK pathway. The team compares normal BRAF to mutant forms such as V600E and examines how current drugs bind and sometimes cause unexpected activation. Experiments include determining protein structures, testing drug binding in biochemical assays, and studying effects in cell models to guide more selective drug designs.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with BRAF-mutant cancers (for example V600E-positive melanoma) or patients willing to donate tumor samples are the most relevant for this research.
Not a fit: Patients whose cancers are not driven by BRAF mutations are unlikely to see direct benefit from this project in the near term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to more effective and selective BRAF-targeting medicines that treat BRAF-driven cancers while avoiding harmful paradoxical activation.
How similar studies have performed: Structure-guided approaches have produced important drugs for other kinases like EGFR, but applying these methods to BRAF and explaining its paradoxical drug responses remains an active and partly novel effort.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Dana-Farber Cancer Inst — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Eck, Michael J — Dana-Farber Cancer Inst
- Study coordinator: Eck, Michael J
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.