Finding natural compounds to prevent liver tumors
Official title: Discovery of novel natural TEAD inhibitors for the chemoprevention of liver tumors
Funded at University of Hawaii at Hilo · NIH-11088906 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking for natural substances from Hawaii and other places that might help stop liver cancer from developing, especially for people who have conditions like chronic hepatitis or liver cirrhosis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Hawaii at Hilo NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Hilo, United States) |
| Project start | May 14, 2024 |
| Project end | April 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $322,891 |
| NIH project number | 5UG3CA290375-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11088906 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with chronic hepatitis B or C infections, liver cirrhosis, or non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without any risk factors for liver cancer or those with other types of cancer may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on discovering new natural products that can inhibit specific proteins involved in the development of liver cancer, particularly hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The study aims to explore microorganisms from Hawaii and other natural sources to identify compounds that could prevent liver cancer in individuals at risk. By targeting the TEAD-YAP/TAZ complex, which plays a significant role in tumor formation, the research seeks to develop effective prevention strategies for HCC. Patients with chronic hepatitis B or C infections, liver cirrhosis, or non-alcoholic fatty liver disease may benefit from these findings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new preventive treatments for liver cancer, significantly improving outcomes for at-risk patients.
How similar studies have gone: While the approach of using natural products for cancer prevention is established, the specific targeting of TEAD in liver cancer prevention is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Hawaii at Hilo
Hilo, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cao, Shugeng — University of Hawaii at Hilo
- Study coordinator: Cao, Shugeng
Related research
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Natural compounds that block TEAD to help prevent liver cancer
Testing natural compounds from Hawaiian microbes to find medicines that could help prevent liver cancer in people at higher risk.
-
Finding natural products to treat a dangerous parasitic infection.
This study is looking for new natural medicines from Hawaiian fungi and bacteria that can help treat angiostrongyliasis, an infection caused by a parasitic worm, by finding ways to stop the worm's larvae from moving.
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Improving shared chemistry resources with a helium recovery system
This study is working on improving the chemistry lab at the University of Hawaii at Hilo by adding a system that saves and recycles liquid helium, which will help lower costs and make important NMR instruments more available for researchers studying medicine and the environment, encouraging teamwork and better research
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.