Heat Shock Factor 1 and cancer: how stress responses shape tumor growth
Official title: Regulation and interplay of Heat Shock Factors in growth-associated proteotoxic stresses
Funded at Northwestern University · NIH-11395414 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This NIH grant looks at how the heat shock response, a cellular stress protection system, is controlled in cancer cells and how it affects tumor growth.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northwestern University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $328,355 |
| NIH project number | 5R01GM144617-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11395414 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with cancers where HSF1 and proteostasis pathways play a role may be relevant for future translational studies.
✕Less likely to help
This basic research study does not involve direct patient participation or immediate clinical testing.
What this research studies
Proteins must fold correctly to keep cells healthy, and cancer cells often rely on stress-response systems to keep growing. The project studies Heat Shock Factor 1 (HSF1), a key regulator of heat shock proteins that help proteins fold and protect cells under stress. Researchers will explore how HSF1 is activated during heat and other stresses, and how its activity changes the way cancer cells grow and interact with their environment. The findings could reveal new angles to slow tumor progression by targeting the stress response in cancer cells.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could identify new targets to disrupt cancer cell survival linked to stress responses, potentially improving therapies.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research shows HSF1 influences cancer biology, suggesting potential for translating these insights into therapies.
Where this research is happening
-
Northwestern University
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mendillo, Marc — Northwestern University
- Study coordinator: Mendillo, Marc
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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.