2015 Lung Cancer Research Foundation Annual Grant Program
Paul Huang, PhD
The Institute of Cancer Research
Research Project:
Identifying new drug targets in non-small cell lung cancer
Summary:
Loss of the protein BRG1 is found in ~20% of lung cancers. Patients that harbor this genetic aberration do not express other well-established lung cancer abnormalities such as EGFR or ALK mutations and can’t be effectively treated with approved therapies including gefitinib and crizotinib. Dr Huang’s research is aimed at identifying new drug targets for patients with BRG1-deficient lung cancer. Using a combination of biochemical methods and high-throughput screens in preclinical model systems, Dr. Huang seeks to develop new therapeutic strategies for lung cancer patients and repurpose existing drugs for effective combination therapies to overcome BRG1 driven disease.