Understanding infantile rhabdomyosarcoma biology and new treatment targets
Official title: Understanding Infantile Rhabdomyosarcoma Biology and Therapeutic Targets
Funded at Research Inst Nationwide Children's Hosp · NIH-11473226 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new grant is studying why infantile rhabdomyosarcoma develops and what drugs or strategies could specifically target it in young children.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Research Inst Nationwide Children's Hosp NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Columbus, United States) |
| Project start | September 23, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $71,772 |
| NIH project number | 3R01CA272872-05S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11473226 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are children under 12 diagnosed with infantile rhabdomyosarcoma or related RMS sub-types, whose tumor tissue or patient samples could be analyzed.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose cancer biology does not involve VGLL2-NCOA2–driven pathways may receive standard care without direct benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This project seeks to uncover the biology of infantile rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare cancer in kids, by studying genetic drivers like VGLL2-NCOA2 and their interaction with developmental pathways such as ARF6. The research will use animal models (like zebrafish and mice), cell cultures, and patient samples to map how these genetic programs drive tumor growth. The goal is to identify actionable targets that could lead to more effective, less harmful therapies for children with this disease. By comparing infantile RMS to other RMS sub-types, the team hopes to pinpoint shared and unique biology that can guide personalized treatment approaches.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could reveal specific targets for new therapies that are better tolerated and more effective for infants and young children with RMS.
How similar studies have gone: Previous efforts have built foundations for RMS biology, but infantile RMS with VGLL2-NCOA2 remains poorly understood, making this approach relatively novel but grounded in emerging genetic insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Research Inst Nationwide Children's Hosp
Columbus, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kendall, Genevieve Claire — Research Inst Nationwide Children's Hosp
- Study coordinator: Kendall, Genevieve Claire
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Understanding infantile rhabdomyosarcoma biology and new treatment targets
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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.