Using precise genome edits and chemical probes to map how proteins work
Integrating Chemical Genetic Approaches with Precision Genome Editing
This project uses precise gene editing and chemical tools to learn how proteins that drive cancer and cell regulation behave.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Harvard University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cambridge, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11374138 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will use CRISPR to make targeted changes to genes inside cells and then treat those cells with chemical probes to see which mutations change drug responses. By combining systematic mutation scans with small-molecule probes, the team aims to pinpoint where drugs bind and how proteins are regulated. The work will be done in cell-based models relevant to cancer biology and related pathways. Results are meant to reveal weaknesses in cancer cells and clarify why some drugs work or stop working.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with cancer who are willing to donate tumor tissue or clinical samples for laboratory research could potentially take part in related sample-provision efforts or future trials informed by this work.
Not a fit: Patients seeking an immediate new treatment are unlikely to benefit directly because this is laboratory-focused discovery research rather than a clinical treatment trial.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new drug targets and explain mechanisms of drug resistance that lead to better, more precise cancer therapies down the line.
How similar studies have performed: Related chemical-genetic and CRISPR scanning studies have successfully mapped drug-target interactions and resistance mutations in preclinical work, but scaling and integrating these methods remains an active, cutting-edge area.
Where this research is happening
Cambridge, United States
- Harvard University — Cambridge, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Liau, Brian — Harvard University
- Study coordinator: Liau, Brian
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.