Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The National Cancer Institute awarded H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute Hospital, Inc. a Project Grant totaling $433,256 under the Cancer Treatment Research program (CFDA 93.395) for the period of June 1, 2026 through May 31, 2028. The research project focuses on discovering novel therapeutic targets and chemical leads to overcome epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-mediated resistance in epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutant lung cancer. The awardee will employ fragment-based drug discovery methodologies utilizing chemical proteomics with fragment-like probes to identify previously untapped target proteins and their ligands associated with resistance to EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors, thereby expanding the biological target space beyond what conventional lead-like molecules can interrogate.

Under Aim 1 of the project, the research team will map the target binding landscape in multiple EGFR-mutant cell line pairs exhibiting EMT-mediated resistance and validate the functional relevance of identified protein targets in resistant cell models. The deliverables include identification of new protein targets, corresponding chemical ligands suitable for lead optimization, and functional validation data supporting the role of these targets in mediating treatment resistance. These research outputs are intended to generate novel drug discovery leads for future dedicated pharmaceutical development programs targeting EMT-mediated resistance mechanisms in EGFR-driven lung cancers.