Chronic mitochondrial division and melanoma: how it drives cancer and how to treat it
Official title: Chronic Mitochondrial Division and Melanoma: Mechanism, Prognosis, and Therapy
Funded at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai · NIH-11331251 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A cancer-focused project explores how mitochondrial division affects melanoma and whether targeting this process could improve therapy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | July 15, 2022 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $492,409 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA267696-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11331251 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are patients with melanoma or cancers showing mitochondrial dysfunction or MAPK pathway alterations who could participate in future trials or biomarker studies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without melanoma or cancers driven by mitochondrial dynamics or MAPK signaling may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project looks at how the way mitochondria divide and fuse influences melanoma cell growth, health, and response to treatment. Researchers study the connection between mitochondrial dynamics and cancer-related changes in metabolism and survival, including how MAPK signaling affects division. The work aims to uncover mechanisms by which chronic mitochondrial division contributes to cancer and to identify potential therapeutic strategies that can disrupt this process. The study builds on previous findings in cancer models and seeks to translate those insights toward improving existing treatments for melanoma.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to new ways to enhance melanoma treatment by interrupting mitochondrial division.
How similar studies have gone: Prior research suggests mitochondrial dynamics play a role in cancer biology, with potential therapeutic implications, but the exact mechanisms and clinical translation remain under investigation.
Where this research is happening
-
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chipuk, Jerry Edward — Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
- Study coordinator: Chipuk, Jerry Edward
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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.