HNSCC, iron addiction, and potential iron-targeted therapies
Official title: HNSCC and Iron addiction
Funded at Virginia Commonwealth University · NIH-11441057 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant explores how head and neck cancer cells become dependent on iron and whether targeting iron pathways could lead to new treatments for patients with recurrent or metastatic disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R03 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Virginia Commonwealth University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Richmond, United States) |
| Project start | August 5, 2026 |
| Project end | August 4, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $310,500 |
| NIH project number | 1R03DE036434-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11441057 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, especially those with recurrent or metastatic disease, could be relevant for future trials or related studies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without HNSCC or without iron-related pathways may not benefit from this specific research.
What this research studies
The project studies head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and how iron supports cancer cell growth. It will create cell models that mimic stages of cancer development and test how iron-related therapies, like ferroptosis, affect these cells. The goal is to identify how genes like PIK3CA and MYC influence iron use in tumors and to find strategies that could make iron-targeted treatments effective for patients with advanced HNSCC.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could reveal new iron-targeted approaches for treating advanced HNSCC.
How similar studies have gone: Previous data show iron dependence in HNSCC cells, supporting further exploration of iron-targeted therapies.
Where this research is happening
-
Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Belvin, Benjamin Ross — Virginia Commonwealth University
- Study coordinator: Belvin, Benjamin Ross
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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.