A new way to measure cancer metabolism and blood flow
Point-of-care optical spectroscopy platform and novel ratio-metric algorithms for rapid and systematic functional characterization of biological models in vivo
This project is creating a new optical tool to help us better understand how tumors grow and resist treatment, especially in head and neck cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Kentucky NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Lexington, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11170040 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
We are developing a special optical device that can quickly measure important details about a tumor's energy use and its blood supply directly within living systems. This new tool will help us see how cancer cells get their energy and how blood vessels support them, which is crucial for understanding why some cancers are hard to treat. We will compare our new method with current techniques and use it to explore why head and neck squamous cell cancers sometimes become resistant to radiation therapy. Our goal is to uncover the metabolic changes that make these cancers resistant, which could lead to better treatment strategies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients with head and neck squamous cell cancer may ultimately benefit from the improved understanding of treatment resistance that this research aims to provide.
Not a fit: Patients without cancer or those with conditions unrelated to tumor metabolism and vasculature may not directly benefit from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this new technology could help researchers understand why certain cancers resist treatment, potentially leading to more effective therapies for patients.
How similar studies have performed: This project focuses on developing a novel optical spectroscopy platform and new data processing techniques, representing a new approach to simultaneously measure tumor metabolism and vasculature.
Where this research is happening
Lexington, United States
- University of Kentucky — Lexington, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zhu, Caigang — University of Kentucky
- Study coordinator: Zhu, Caigang
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 below.