Understanding how epigenetic helper proteins drive AML and how to target them
Official title: Deciphering and Targeting Epigenetic Accessory Proteins in Acute myeloid Leukemia
Funded at University of Alabama at Birmingham · NIH-11448341 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A scientist team is studying how accessory proteins in gene-regulating complexes affect acute myeloid leukemia and whether they can be targeted for safer, more precise therapies.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Alabama at Birmingham NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Birmingham, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $576,965 |
| NIH project number | 1R01CA303110-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11448341 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with AML, especially those with KMT2A rearrangements or NPM1 mutations, who may benefit from future targeted therapies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without AML or those unlikely to respond to Menin-inhibitor–based strategies may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project looks at how protein partners that accompany core enzymes control gene activity in AML. By using an unbiased CRISPR screen and cellular models, researchers will identify accessory proteins like JADE2 that influence leukemia cell growth and response to Menin inhibitors. The work aims to map how these helpers affect drug sensitivity and to pinpoint new targets that could be blocked with fewer side effects. Findings could guide the development of therapies that more precisely disrupt leukemia-driving gene regulation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to targeted AML therapies with improved efficacy and reduced toxicities by hitting crucial epigenetic helpers rather than broad chromatin machinery.
How similar studies have gone: Previous Menin-inhibitor work showed promise, but resistance underscores the need for new targets like JADE2 within epigenetic complexes.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lu, Rui — University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Study coordinator: Lu, Rui
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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.