Although treatments for cancer have improved significantly in the last few decades, many people still experience horrible side effects because healthy cells are affected along with cancerous ones.  A major discovery in recent years offers new hope: Scientists have discovered that within our cells are proteins called kinases.  When tumors develop, these kinases go awry.  By targeting these mutated kinases, scientists can potentially treat cancer cells directly, without harming healthy cells.

Seven new anti-cancer drugs that prevent the activity of kinases have been approved by the FDA and there is huge potential for development of many more.  However, there is urgent need to better understand the difference between signals that originate from normal kinase activity versus those that come from a cancerous kinase.

To solve this problem, Dr. Gray is using organic chemistry to create a kinase "cancer signaling roadmap".  His ambitious work could be used to develop new drugs for many different types of cancer – drugs that are far less likely to cause side effects.

"The Damon Runyon-Rachleff Innovation Award will allow my research group to develop chemical tools for mapping kinase signal transduction pathways. Our group is thrilled have the opportunity to tackle a high-risk/high-reward project that wouldn't stand a chance of getting funded from traditional funding sources," said Dr. Gray.

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Project Title: "Identification of kinase substrates using selective irreversible crosslinkers"

Institution: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Sponsor(s) / Mentor(s): n/a

Cancer Type: Breast, Lung, Skin

Research Area: Chemical Biology