Despite the well-established recognition of the critical roles played by intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) in cancer initiation, development, and therapeutic resistance, a comprehensive understanding of their complex functions remains a significant challenge. Many as yet undrugged key cancer driver genes encode these dynamic proteins, highlighting the urgent need for focused investigation.
To address this gap in knowledge and foster collaborative progress, The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research convened a dedicated workshop, Intrinsically Disordered Proteins in Cancer, in January 2025 in collaboration with the Banbury Center at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. The workshop was organized by leading experts in the field: Cigall Kadoch, PhD, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute; and Rohit Pappu, PhD, Washington University in St. Louis.
The workshop brought together a diverse group of scientists, clinicians, and researchers from around the globe, representing expertise in areas such as structural biology, molecular biology, biophysics, computational biology, and cancer therapeutics. This multidisciplinary nature fostered rich discussions on the multifaceted roles of IDPs in cancer biology. Attendees presented their latest research on the structural dynamics of IDPs, their complex behavior and functions, and their potential as therapeutic targets. Discussions also covered novel methods for studying and targeting IDPs, leveraging advances in areas like structural biology, chemical biology, and artificial intelligence.
New collaborations among investigators who attended the workshop are currently under consideration for funding through The Mark Foundation’s ASPIRE Award program, which enables researchers to pursue innovative ideas with the potential to solve high-impact problems in cancer research.