NIH-funded research R21 grant

Using protein patterns to predict how cancer drugs will work

Official title: Proteomic signatures to predict drug response in cancer

Funded at University of Washington · NIH-11076345 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study is looking at how certain proteins in liver cancer cells can help doctors figure out which cancer drugs will work best for individual patients, so they can get more personalized treatment based on their specific tumor.

Quick facts

Grant typeR21 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Washington
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Seattle, United States)
Project startApril 17, 2024
Project endMarch 31, 2026
Funding year2025
Award (this year)$181,741
NIH project number5R21CA288806-02
Project IDNIH-11076345 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with liver cancer who are considering treatment options.

Less likely to help

Patients with cancers other than liver cancer may not benefit from this specific research.

What this research studies

This research investigates how specific protein activity in liver cancer cells can predict the effectiveness of various cancer drugs. By analyzing samples from normal liver tissue and liver cancer cell lines, the team aims to refine a predictive model called the KI-Predictor. This model will be tested using actual liver cancer samples from patients to see how well it can forecast drug responses in a lab setting. The goal is to improve personalized treatment options for patients based on their unique tumor characteristics.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective and personalized cancer treatments for patients.

How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promising results using similar proteomic approaches to predict drug responses in cancer treatment.

Where this research is happening

  • University of Washington
    Seattle, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Ong, Shao-En — University of Washington
  • Study coordinator: Ong, Shao-En

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About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.