Understanding Key Proteins in Cancer and Immune Cells
New Molecular Probes For Protein Kinases
This project aims to create new tools to better understand how certain proteins, called kinases, work inside cells, especially those involved in cancers and immune responses.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Washington NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11076657 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Our goal is to develop advanced chemical tools that help us learn how protein kinases regulate cell functions. We've already made discoveries about how these proteins operate, even well-known ones, by using these new tools. Now, we're focusing on a specific kinase called Lck, which is crucial for T cell signaling, a process vital for our immune system and relevant to CAR T cell therapies for cancer. We want to uncover what makes Lck unique and how it controls T cell activity, which could lead to new ways to fight cancer.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This foundational research does not directly involve patient participation at this stage, but future clinical applications may benefit patients with various cancers or those undergoing immune-based therapies.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate treatment options would not directly benefit from this early-stage laboratory research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this basic understanding of kinase function could pave the way for developing new therapies that target these proteins in cancers or to improve immune cell treatments like CAR T cells.
How similar studies have performed: The researchers have previously demonstrated success in making unexpected mechanistic discoveries on well-characterized kinases using similar molecular analysis tools.
Where this research is happening
Seattle, United States
- University of Washington — Seattle, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Maly, Dustin J — University of Washington
- Study coordinator: Maly, Dustin 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.