NIH-funded research NIH-funded research

Defining metabolic targets in kidney cancer for new treatments

Official title: Project 2: Defining Targetable Metabolic Dependencies in Human Renal Cell Carcinoma

Funded at Ut Southwestern Medical Center · NIH-11400752 · Data updated 2026-11-12

A cancer-focused project is exploring how kidney cancer uses metabolism so doctors can find new, targeted ways to treat it.

More Carcinoma research and trials

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUt Southwestern Medical Center
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Dallas, United States)
Project startAugust 1, 2016
Project endJuly 31, 2027
Funding year2026
Award (this year)$357,520
NIH project number5P50CA196516-10
Project IDNIH-11400752 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Adults with clear cell renal cell carcinoma or related kidney cancers who may undergo metabolism-based studies and participate in translational research.

Less likely to help

Patients not eligible for tumor metabolism studies or those without ccRCC may not benefit directly.

What this research studies

This project studies how metabolic changes drive clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) and aims to identify enzymes that could be blocked with easy-to-use drugs. Researchers have tested methods in humans to observe how RCC processes nutrients and energy, and they are developing models that closely mirror human tumors. A translational platform called the In Vivo Metabolism Lab helps connect patient metabolism data to potential therapies. The work spans several years and includes advanced patient-derived tumor models to test promising targets.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, patients with ccRCC could gain new targeted treatment options based on their tumor metabolism.

How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows that patient-derived tumor models and metabolic profiling can reveal actionable targets, supporting potential success for similar approaches.

Where this research is happening

  • Ut Southwestern Medical Center
    Dallas, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Deberardinis, Ralph J — Ut Southwestern Medical Center
  • Study coordinator: Deberardinis, Ralph J

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.