Fasting and its effects on gut stem cells and cancer
Official title: The lysosomal fasting response in intestinal stem cells and cancer
Funded at Massachusetts Institute of Technology · NIH-11166438 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project explores how fasting affects special cells in the gut, called stem cells, and how this might relate to cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts Institute of Technology NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cambridge, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $591,948 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK140310-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11166438 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This foundational work is not directly recruiting patients but aims to benefit individuals with or at risk for cancers, particularly those originating in the intestine.
✕Less likely to help
Patients seeking immediate treatment options may not directly benefit from this early-stage, basic science investigation.
What this research studies
We know that fasting can improve overall health and help tissues heal, partly by boosting stem cell activity. Since stem cells can sometimes be the starting point for certain cancers, we want to understand how fasting influences these important cells. Our focus is on tiny cell parts called lysosomes, which act like the cell's recycling and signaling centers, to see how they manage the gut stem cell response to fasting and their role in cancer development. By understanding these processes, we hope to find new ways to help people with cancer.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new strategies, possibly involving diet or medications, to prevent or treat certain cancers by targeting how cells respond to fasting.
How similar studies have gone: While the general benefits of fasting are known, this specific focus on lysosomes in intestinal stem cells and their role in cancer is a novel area of exploration.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yilmaz, Omer — Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Study coordinator: Yilmaz, Omer
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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.