# Cancer Chemical and Structural Biology Program - 06

> **NIH NIH P30** · JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $36,923

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
The overall goal of the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center (SKCCC) Cancer Chemical and
Structural Biology (CCSB) Program is to: 1) discover, validate and characterize novel molecular targets for
developing new therapeutic agents against human cancers; 2) identify new small molecules with anticancer
potential and optimize their potency; and 3) improve the delivery of existing and promising new therapeutic
agents. To accomplish these goals, the Program comprises faculty members across the university (e.g., the
medical school, the Whiting School of Engineering and Homewood). CCSB fosters major interactions among
SKCCC members and includes 22 Program members from nearly a dozen departments. Eighteen members
have peer-reviewed support, with NCI and other peer-reviewed support of Program members totaling more
than $10.7 million total costs and all Program support totaling $11.6 million. The productivity of CCSB members
is demonstrated by the 611 publications, of which 43 (7%) were Intra-Programmatic, 144 (24%) were Inter-
Programmatic and 202 (33%) were multi-institutional collaborations. Activities for the next project period stand
to focus on three complementary aims:
Aim 1: Characterize both new and existing targets using biophysical and chemical approaches.
Aim 2: Develop small-molecule screening methods and optimize novel lead compounds for cancer targets.
Aim 3: Develop methods for assessing and optimizing the delivery of anticancer drugs.
The first goal describes predominantly laboratory-based efforts, with a focus on identifying and validating
preclinical targets, and on “proof of principle” experiments needed for further clinical testing. These activities
include molecular, structural and cell biology studies, coupled with cellular and whole-animal assays, and
preclinical pharmacokinetic and dynamic analyses. The second goal involves developing new chemical
libraries and carrying out small-molecule screening and optimization against CCSB targets. The third goal
centers on developing new methods for small-molecule delivery, including pro-drugs, encapsulation methods
and delivery assessment in vivo. Through these goals, the Program will provide new preclinical candidates,
along with the biology of the respective molecular targets, to investigators in other SKCCC Programs to move
them further along the clinical development path. This will have a broad and powerful impact by assisting
clinical researchers with basic science investigations essential to the treatment of cancer and by driving the
discovery and delivery of new anticancer drugs to the clinic for real-world testing.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9944521
- **Project number:** 5P30CA006973-57
- **Recipient organization:** JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** James M. Berger
- **Activity code:** P30 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $36,923
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** — → —

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9944521

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9944521, Cancer Chemical and Structural Biology Program - 06 (5P30CA006973-57). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9944521. Licensed CC0.

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