How cancer cell parts adapt to stress
Systems Analysis of Stress-adapted Cancer Organelles (SASCO) Center
Researchers are combining computer models with lab work on cancer cells, mouse models, and tumor samples to find weak points in how cell compartments cope with cancer-related stress for people with breast and brain cancers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Virginia NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Charlottesville, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11172282 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This Center brings together labs to build detailed mechanistic models of different cell organelles and then test those models with quantitative experiments in disease-relevant cell cultures and primary tumor samples. The team will also use genetically engineered mouse models to study how organelle adaptations affect tumor initiation and progression. By integrating signaling, metabolism, and transport pathways, they aim to identify a few critical bottlenecks that cancer cells rely on. A shared core supports the projects so discoveries can move more quickly toward possible targets for therapy.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients with breast or brain cancer who are willing to donate tumor tissue or participate in related clinical studies at the University of Virginia or affiliated clinics may be eligible to contribute.
Not a fit: People without breast or brain cancer, or those needing immediate treatment changes, are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this basic-research center.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new vulnerabilities in cancer cells that lead to targeted treatments or improve existing therapies for breast and brain cancers.
How similar studies have performed: Combining systems-level modeling with lab experiments has uncovered promising targets in other cancer studies, but applying this approach specifically to organelle adaptations is relatively new and exploratory.
Where this research is happening
Charlottesville, United States
- University of Virginia — Charlottesville, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Janes, Kevin a — University of Virginia
- Study coordinator: Janes, Kevin a
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.