Understanding how fusion proteins drive a pediatric kidney cancer
Official title: Uncovering the formation and function of fusion oncoprotein condensates in translocation renal cell carcinoma
Funded at Johns Hopkins University · NIH-11366037 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A Johns Hopkins-led study will explore how specific fusion proteins form inside cancer cells to reveal new targets for treating pediatric kidney cancer called tRCC.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $643,861 |
| NIH project number | 1R01CA303867-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11366037 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with pediatric/adolescent renal cell carcinoma, especially those with TFE3 fusion events, may indirectly benefit from future therapies developed from these findings.
✕Less likely to help
Current patients would not receive a direct treatment from this basic-science project, but findings could enable future therapies.
What this research studies
This project looks at a rare, aggressive kidney cancer that mainly affects children and adolescents. Researchers will study how TFE3 fusion proteins create condensates in the nucleus and how these condensates affect gene activity. By mapping these molecular mechanisms, the team hopes to identify potential drug targets and essential dependencies that could guide future therapies. The work will combine molecular biology approaches with analyses of how these fusion proteins organize the genome to drive cancer.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could point to specific drug targets and pave the way for new treatments for pediatric tRCC.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has shown that transcription factor fusions can form nuclear condensates that influence cancer biology, supporting potential for translational follow-up.
Where this research is happening
-
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cai, Danfeng — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Cai, Danfeng
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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.