A clearer way to identify lipids that may be linked to breast cancer
Official title: A multimodal measurement platform for unambiguous lipid identification
Funded at Battelle Pacific Northwest Laboratories · NIH-11203081 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new high-tech method will help scientists precisely identify fat-like molecules in breast cancer samples, which could uncover new clues about cancer behavior.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Battelle Pacific Northwest Laboratories NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Richland, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,688,282 |
| NIH project number | 1R01GM160387-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11203081 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not a patient-facing study at this stage; future translation may involve individuals with breast cancer where lipid signatures are clinically relevant.
✕Less likely to help
The current project does not enroll patients or directly test therapies.
What this research studies
This grant funds development of a multimodal measurement platform that uses advanced ion mobility and mass spectrometry to distinguish lipid molecules that look similar. The goal is to unambiguously identify free fatty acids and lipids in complex biomedical samples, enabling clearer associations with cancer biology. The work focuses on improving scientific tools to study lipid roles in tumor growth and metastasis, with potential downstream benefits for diagnosis and treatment development. Researchers will create a high-resolution IM-MS system with novel fragmentation and measurement strategies to generate robust lipid signatures. The project is laboratory-based, with potential implications for future translational research in breast cancer and related conditions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the platform could lead to more accurate lipid biomarkers and better understanding of lipid-driven cancer processes, guiding future therapies.
How similar studies have gone: Previous lipidomics efforts have shown promise, but this project aims to overcome key separation challenges with a novel instrumentation approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Battelle Pacific Northwest Laboratories
Richland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Harrilal, Christopher P — Battelle Pacific Northwest Laboratories
- Study coordinator: Harrilal, Christopher P
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.