Collagen and the DDR1 receptor in pancreatic cancer
Collagen Signaling in Pancreatic Cancer
Looking at whether blocking a collagen receptor called DDR1 can slow pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma growth and spread.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (East Lansing, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11325029 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are exploring how fibrillar collagens, especially COL11, drive pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma by activating the DDR1 receptor on tumor cells. They use lab-grown cancer cells and mouse models, removing or increasing DDR1 to see how tumors grow and spread. The team embeds tumor cells in collagen scaffolds and maps which kinases are turned on to find druggable weak points. Results will guide whether targeting DDR1-triggered pathways could make these dense, fibrotic tumors less aggressive.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be people diagnosed with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, particularly those whose tumors show high levels of fibrillar collagens or DDR1 expression.
Not a fit: People without pancreatic cancer or whose tumors do not rely on collagen–DDR1 signaling may not benefit from this line of research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could point to new drug targets that slow tumor growth and reduce metastasis in pancreatic cancer patients.
How similar studies have performed: Previous mouse studies showed that removing DDR1 can slow pancreatic cancer progression, but targeting the COL11/DDR1 signaling axis and its downstream kinase networks is a newer approach that needs more validation.
Where this research is happening
East Lansing, United States
- Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences — East Lansing, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Crawford, Howard C. — Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Crawford, Howard C.
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.