How cells adapt to stiffness and what that could mean for breast cancer
Official title: Stiffness-mediated genetic selection of cells
Funded at Tufts University Medford · NIH-11396253 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Scientists will study how breast cancer cells change over time when grown on soft versus stiff surfaces to see if their genetics shift to favor growth in those conditions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Tufts University Medford NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 1, 2025 |
| Project end | August 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $578,031 |
| NIH project number | 5U01CA283753-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11396253 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not applicable to patients directly; results may eventually influence strategies for breast cancer treatment.
✕Less likely to help
No immediate benefit for patients during the study; findings are preclinical.
What this research studies
This project uses lab-grown breast cancer cells cultured on soft and stiff gels to observe long-term changes in growth, movement, and potential metastasis. Researchers will track genetic changes as cells adapt to the mechanical environment over extended periods. The goal is to understand if substrate stiffness can drive cellular evolution that influences cancer behavior and treatment responses.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could reveal how physical properties of the tumor environment influence cancer progression and highlight new angles for therapies that target cell mechanics.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work showed short-term responses to stiffness, but this study extends to longer-term evolution which is less explored.
Where this research is happening
-
Tufts University Medford
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Peyton, Shelly R. — Tufts University Medford
- Study coordinator: Peyton, Shelly R.
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.