Cellular changes after radiation damage in fruit flies
Official title: Cellular plasticity and regeneration after radiation damage in Drosophila
Funded at University of Colorado · NIH-11517030 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study in fruit flies looks at how tissues repair themselves after radiation damage, with the goal of informing better cancer treatments for people who receive radiotherapy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Colorado NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boulder, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | January 1, 2019 |
| Project end | January 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $9,534 |
| NIH project number | 3R35GM130374-08S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11517030 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients receiving radiotherapy or with cancers modeled by radiation biology may indirectly benefit from the research advances.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not undergoing radiotherapy or not affected by tumor regeneration after radiation may see limited direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project uses fruit flies to study how cells decide between dying, repairing damage, or regenerating after exposure to ionizing radiation. Researchers will map the genes and proteins that control regeneration in irradiated tissues and test chemical tools that can modulate these processes. The findings could point to new approaches to prevent tumor regrowth after radiotherapy and improve patient outcomes. Results from the fly model are intended to be relevant to human cancer biology because of shared genetic pathways.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could reveal new targets to limit tumor regrowth after radiation and lead to better cancer therapies.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies in Drosophila and human cancer models suggest conserved mechanisms of radiation response and regeneration, supporting potential translational relevance.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Colorado
Boulder, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Su, Tin Tin — University of Colorado
- Study coordinator: Su, Tin Tin
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Empowering youth to prevent violence in Denver communities
A community-led program in Denver is testing new ways to reduce youth violence by engaging youth, families, and local partners, and by measuring how well these strategies work.
-
Center that enables faster, better population science research at CU Boulder
A PI-led center at the University of Colorado aims to sustain and expand population science research by supporting researchers and infrastructure for five more years.
-
AI-powered system to improve teamwork in cardiac surgery
A research project is testing an AI-driven system that listens to team conversations during heart surgeries to spot teamwork patterns and give real-time feedback to improve patient safety.
-
Hemp-derived CBD for reducing cannabis use in high-THC concentrate users
A randomized, placebo-controlled trial tests whether hemp-derived CBD can help adults who mainly use high-potency cannabis concentrates reduce their cannabis use.
-
Gene-environment factors shaping Alzheimer's risk across life (twin study)
This project studies how modifiable lifestyle and environmental factors, viewed through twin data, influence the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias across different stages of life.
-
CU Boulder Cryo-ET Center: making advanced cellular imaging accessible
A new satellite center at the University of Colorado Boulder will provide cryo-electron tomography services and training to researchers studying cells, organelles, and large molecular machines.
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.