# Development of small molecule epigenetic therapeutics for prostate cancer

> **NIH NIH R41** · RAPHAEL PHARMACEUTICALS LLC · 2022 · $55,000

## Abstract

In this administrative supplement proposal, we form a three-team member to participate I-Corps program. Our
team consists of Dr. Zhi-Ping Liu (C-level corporate officer), Dr. Qing-Jun Zhang (Technical Lead), and Mr. Kellen
Ragsdale (Industry Expert). Dr. Liu is the scientific co-founder of Raphael Pharmaceuticals LLC, the grantee
small business. Dr. Liu’s lab established KDM4B as a target for prostate tumorigenesis and identified lead
compounds B3 and its analogs. She is one of the inventors of our technology, use of KDM4B inhibitors in prostate
cancer therapy, and PI of the STTR Phase I grant. Dr. Liu will lead the three-member team and implement the
overall commercialization strategy for the project based on knowledge gained during the I-Corps program. Dr.
Zhang has been trained as post-doc with Dr. Liu and is now a senior research scientist in her lab and Technical
lead in Raphael Pharmaceuticals. Dr. Zhang has scientific background in epigenetics, nuclear hormone
receptors, cancer, and transcriptional regulation. His expertise and work in epigenetics contributed significantly
to our project development. Dr. Zhang has participated in all aspects of the development of KDM4B inhibitors
in Dr. Liu’s lab and is intimately familiar with the technology. Mr. Ragsdale was a Business Development Manager
at UT Southwestern Medical Center. He is a recognized expert in commercializing MedTech and BioTech
products and seasoned independent consultant who helps his clients with their IP needs in all aspects of early-
stage technology, product development, and business creation. Mr. Ragsdale had extensive meetings with the
technology inventor Dr. Zhi-Ping Liu on the project and is very enthusiastic and committed to the project. All
team members are committed to the program and able to meet the time-intensive requirements of the training
program. Our technology has been filed for patent protection. The aim of the proposal is to learn from the I-Corps
program how to conduct background research into competitive IP landscape, value proposition, market
assessment, reimbursement model, and identifying commercialization pathway. We are willing to modify,
realign, and pivoting our initial commercialization strategy based on thorough interview with potential customers
and industry experts and knowledge gained from the program.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10558443
- **Project number:** 3R41CA261384-01S1
- **Recipient organization:** RAPHAEL PHARMACEUTICALS LLC
- **Principal Investigator:** JUNG-MO AHN
- **Activity code:** R41 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $55,000
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2021-08-16 → 2022-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10558443

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10558443, Development of small molecule epigenetic therapeutics for prostate cancer (3R41CA261384-01S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10558443. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*