Using light to selectively destroy cancer proteins
Official title: Red-light driven targeted degradation of cancer proteins
Funded at Columbia Univ New York Morningside · NIH-11062611 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is exploring a new way to treat cancer by using light to help break down certain proteins in cancer cells, which could make existing treatments work better for patients like you.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Columbia Univ New York Morningside NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | January 2, 2025 |
| Project end | December 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $218,886 |
| NIH project number | 1R61CA297882-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11062611 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research would be patients with cancers that are driven by specific proteins that can be targeted for degradation.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose cancers do not involve the targeted proteins or who are not responsive to light-activated therapies may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates a novel approach to cancer treatment by using light to trigger the degradation of specific cancer proteins. By employing a technique that activates protein cleavage reactions with visible light, the study aims to bypass the limitations of traditional methods that rely on cellular degradation machinery. This innovative strategy could provide a more effective way to manipulate protein functions in cancer cells, potentially leading to improved therapeutic outcomes. Patients may benefit from this approach as it could enhance the effectiveness of anti-cancer therapies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective cancer treatments by enabling targeted degradation of harmful proteins.
How similar studies have gone: While targeted protein degradation is a growing field, this specific approach using light activation is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested in clinical settings.
Where this research is happening
-
Columbia Univ New York Morningside
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Shah, Neel H — Columbia Univ New York Morningside
- Study coordinator: Shah, Neel H
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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.