3D bone tissue models to study breast cancer spread to bone and stop it
Official title: Modeling Bone Breast Tumor Cell Interactions to Predict and Prevent Metastasis
Funded at University of Georgia · NIH-11450920 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aims to build a tunable 3D bone-like scaffold to study how breast cancer cells interact with bone and test early ways to prevent bone metastasis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Georgia NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Athens, United States) |
| Project start | August 12, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $479,860 |
| NIH project number | 1R01CA304246-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11450920 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are patients with breast cancer at risk for bone metastasis or researchers seeking better models of breast-bone interactions.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without breast cancer or those not at risk for bone metastasis may not directly benefit from this model-focused research.
What this research studies
Researchers will create a customizable 3D bone-like environment using PETG, hydroxyapatite, and collagen to mimic healthy and osteoporotic bone. The model lets scientists observe breast cancer cell behavior and how cancer cells interact with bone tissue in a controlled setting. They will compare scaffold features to real bone changes and validate which conditions promote or hinder metastasis, with a focus on early intervention points. The work aims to bridge in vitro findings with in vivo observations to better predict bone metastasis risk and guide future therapies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this model could help identify early intervention strategies to prevent breast cancer from spreading to bone.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies show that well-designed 3D bone-like scaffolds can recreate key tumor-bone interactions, supporting potential success for this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Georgia
Athens, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Burg, Karen Jl — University of Georgia
- Study coordinator: Burg, Karen Jl
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.