Understanding how microRNA degradation affects T-cell leukemia therapy
Official title: Exploring microRNA degradation in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Funded at University of Florida · NIH-11365118 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant studies how specific microRNAs are degraded in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) and how this might boost chemotherapy effectiveness.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Florida NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Gainesville, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $503,845 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA282812-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11365118 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are patients with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) who are receiving standard dexamethasone-containing chemotherapy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without T-ALL or those not undergoing the related chemotherapy may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
In patients with T-ALL, scientists will examine how the BIM gene mRNA causes degradation of cancer-promoting microRNAs miR-221/222 when dexamethasone is used. They will use laboratory experiments and computational tools to map how this degradation occurs and how it changes the response to standard chemotherapy. The project includes analyzing patient samples to identify sequences in target mRNAs that trigger microRNA breakdown, with the goal of guiding new treatment strategies. If successful, the work could reveal a novel way to enhance leukemia cell death during therapy. The study is conducted at the University of Florida by Mingyi Xie and collaborators over five years.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could lead to improved chemotherapy responses for T-ALL patients by exploiting microRNA degradation mechanisms.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has shown microRNA regulation can influence cancer therapy responses, but this specific degradation pathway in T-ALL is being explored.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Florida
Gainesville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Xie, Mingyi — University of Florida
- Study coordinator: Xie, Mingyi
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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.