# Pre-IND Development of Polymeric Micelles with Dual Drug Payloads for HCC Therapy

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF TX MD ANDERSON CAN CTR · 2024 · $61,165

## Abstract

Summary/Aims of the Supplement Project
The supplement grant is to request the support for Mr. Emanuel Baltrip, a graduate student of
African American, to pursue his Ph.D. training. In research aspect, he will work on his dissertation
project, a part of the parent funded parent project (1R01CA257842-01A1) on developing
polymeric micelle delivery of paclitaxel and cyclopamine for the treatment of hepatocellular
adenocarcinoma (HCC) in orthotopic mouse models. In mentoring and career development
aspect, Mr. Baltrip will be trained in developing research skills in hypothesis development,
experimental study planning and execution, critical data analysis, and verbal and written
communication skills, as well as developing proposals, to acquire a comprehensive set of skills
for becoming a conscientious and capable cancer researcher of the underrepresented ethnicity,
to fulfill the unmet clinical need for improving the survival and quality of life of HCC patients.
The 3 specific aims for Mr. Baltrip’s project are:
(a) De-risking of M-CPA/PTX in single- and multiple-dose toxicity to evaluate the differential
 toxicity in male and female mice, recently observed in Dr. Chow’s lab with male mice being
 more sensitive for adverse events than the female counter part. The differential drug
 metabolism between sexes is the hypothesis to be tested.
(b) 1. Comprehensive characterization of pharmacokinetic (PK), exposure in tumor and
 organ biodistribution of CPA and PTX from the dose of M-CPA/PTX
 2. Establishment of the dose proportionality of the unique delivery system, M-CPA/PTX after
 single and multiple doses that will contribute to the rational dose finding based on the
 established dose linearity range, and
(c) Derivation of PK/pharmacodynamics (PD) correlation of M-CPA/PTX for the treatment of HCC
 in orthotopic mouse models, using alpha-fetoprotein as a PD biomarker for the development
 and treatment response of HCC to monitor the treatment efficacy of M-CPA/PTX. Other tumor
 measures including tumor growth suppression and animal survival will also be monitored for
 other PK/PD correlations. These studies will offer projection of effective exposures in plasma
 and tumor for the intended efficacy.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 11061626
- **Project number:** 3R01CA257842-03S1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF TX MD ANDERSON CAN CTR
- **Principal Investigator:** Diana S-L. Chow
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $61,165
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2022-08-01 → 2026-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/11061626

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 11061626, Pre-IND Development of Polymeric Micelles with Dual Drug Payloads for HCC Therapy (3R01CA257842-03S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-11 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/11061626. Licensed CC0.

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