Finding cancer-fighting compounds from plants, fungi, and microbes
Discovery of Anticancer Agents of Diverse Natural Origin
Scientists are looking for new cancer-fighting chemicals in plants, lichens, fungi, and microbes to help people with cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ohio State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Columbus, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11198503 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Teams at Ohio State University, the University of Illinois at Chicago, and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro collect and access natural materials from tropical plants, lichens, cyanobacteria, and filamentous fungi. Extracts from these organisms are tested in cell-based and tumor-growth related laboratory assays to spot promising anticancer activity. Active extracts are separated by bioassay-directed fractionation, analyzed by LC-MS, and matched against known compounds to focus on novel molecules. Collaborators and cores support structure identification and biological testing to move promising compounds toward preclinical development.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with cancer who might later enroll in clinical trials of new drugs or who are willing to donate tissue or blood samples for related research would be the most relevant participants over time.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate treatment benefits or those with non-cancer conditions would not expect direct benefit from this early-stage laboratory discovery work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify new cancer drugs or drug leads that work differently from current treatments and may help patients who no longer respond to existing therapies.
How similar studies have performed: Similar natural-product discovery efforts have led to approved cancer drugs in the past, but turning a lab finding into a safe, effective treatment is challenging and many leads do not reach patients.
Where this research is happening
Columbus, UNITED STATES
- Ohio State University — Columbus, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kinghorn, Alan Douglas — Ohio State University
- Study coordinator: Kinghorn, Alan Douglas
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.