FABP5: How fats in obesity may drive triple negative breast cancer
Official title: Determining the role of FABP5 in linking high fat diet-induced obesity to triple negative breast cancer progression
Funded at University of Iowa · NIH-11444397 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study exploring how a fat‑binding protein called FABP5 helps obesity-related fats push the spread of aggressive breast cancer in models that resemble human disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Iowa NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Iowa City, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $644,398 |
| NIH project number | 1U01CA307489-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11444397 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with obesity and breast cancer risk or a diagnosis of triple-negative breast cancer who could benefit from FABP5-focused therapies in the future.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without obesity-related risk or TNBC may not directly benefit from FABP5-targeted approaches.
What this research studies
This project investigates how FABP5 links high-fat diets to the progression and spread of triple negative breast cancer using animal models and human-relevant samples. Researchers will examine how different fats affect FABP5 activity and lipid metabolism to understand mechanisms driving metastasis. The study aims to identify FABP5 as a biomarker and potential therapeutic target to slow or stop cancer progression in people with obesity. The work will involve analyses of tissue and blood samples, plus experiments that model human disease features to inform future trials.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could lead to new strategies to prevent or slow TNBC progression in people with obesity by targeting FABP5.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary data suggest FABP5 links lipid metabolism to cancer progression, but translation to human therapy remains under exploration.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Iowa
Iowa City, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Li, Bing — University of Iowa
- Study coordinator: Li, Bing
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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-
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-
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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.