Glucocorticoid rhythm restoration in breast cancer
Official title: Central mechanisms of glucocorticoid circadian rhythm dysfunction in breast cancer
Funded at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory · NIH-11345857 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aims to understand and help restore daily cortisol rhythms in people with breast cancer to improve quality of life and potentially survival.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cold Spring Harbor, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,382,486 |
| NIH project number | 4R01CA286651-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11345857 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with breast cancer, particularly those experiencing disrupted circadian cortisol rhythms.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without disrupted cortisol rhythms or those unlikely to respond to rhythm-restoration approaches may see limited benefit.
What this research studies
This project looks at why cortisol, the body’s stress hormone, loses its normal daily pattern in women with breast cancer and how that may affect health. Researchers will study how brain signals and adrenal glands control cortisol rhythms and test strategies to re-synchronize these rhythms in preclinical models. The goal is to identify approaches, including targeted brain circuits, that could support better immune function, energy, and daily functioning for patients. If successful, the work could point to new ways to help people with breast cancer feel better and potentially slow disease progression.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, restoring healthy cortisol rhythms could improve quality of life and possibly impact breast cancer outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical data suggest that reinforcing glucocorticoid rhythms can modify disease-related biology, with ongoing exploration in cancer models.
Where this research is happening
-
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Cold Spring Harbor, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Borniger, Jeremy — Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
- Study coordinator: Borniger, Jeremy
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Understanding daily hormone rhythms in breast cancer
This work explores why daily hormone cycles are disrupted in people with breast cancer and how restoring these cycles might help.
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Understanding how disrupted hormone rhythms affect breast cancer outcomes
This study is looking at how changes in a hormone called cortisol might affect breast cancer patients' health and survival, and it aims to find new ways to help by restoring normal hormone levels.
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Translational breast cancer research to improve treatment options
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Cancer Pain Management for Asian American Breast Cancer Survivors with Depressive Symptoms
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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.