How Cells Adapt to Their Environment and Prevent Disease

The Role of Chromatin in Metabolic Homeostasis

['FUNDING_OTHER'] · STANFORD UNIVERSITY · NIH-11123213

This research explores how changes in cell structure help our bodies adapt to different conditions, which is important for preventing diseases like cancer and heart problems.

Quick facts

Phase['FUNDING_OTHER']
Study typeNih_funding
SexAll
SponsorSTANFORD UNIVERSITY (nih funded)
Locations1 site (STANFORD, UNITED STATES)
Trial IDNIH-11123213 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this research studies

Our cells constantly adjust to changes in their surroundings, such as varying nutrient levels, to stay healthy. When cells struggle to adapt effectively, it can lead to serious health issues, including developmental problems, various cancers, and heart conditions. This project focuses on understanding how tiny modifications to a cell's genetic material, called chromatin, enable cells to adapt and maintain balance. The goal is to uncover the specific ways these chromatin changes influence our metabolism and contribute to the development of different diseases. This fundamental work aims to provide new insights into the basic processes that keep our bodies functioning well.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: This foundational research does not directly involve patient participation at this stage, but future studies stemming from it could benefit individuals with metabolic dysfunction, developmental abnormalities, or specific cancers and cardiac diseases.

Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate new treatments or direct clinical intervention would not find direct benefit from this basic science project.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new ways to understand and potentially treat diseases linked to how cells handle their energy and environment, such as certain cancers and heart conditions.

How similar studies have performed: While the general concept of chromatin modification is known, the specific mechanisms by which it contributes to metabolic plasticity in the context of disease are largely unexplored, making this a novel area of investigation.

Where this research is happening

STANFORD, UNITED STATES

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.

View on NIH RePORTER →

Conditions: Cancers, Cardiac Diseases, Cardiac Disorders

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.