How changes in cell metabolism can make drugs work differently
Linking metabolic activity with drug sensitivity using metabolic influence networks
Researchers are building computer and lab models to learn how the metabolic activity inside cells changes whether different drugs work, aiming to guide better treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11087828 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project combines advanced computer modeling with laboratory experiments to link cellular metabolism to drug sensitivity. The team will use genome-scale models, machine learning, and data from single-cell and spatial omics to capture metabolic regulation and variability. They will expand models to include signaling networks, non-coding RNAs, DNA methylation, and splicing, and then test predictions in microbes (E. coli and yeast) and human cell lines. The goal is to uncover principles that explain when and why drugs are more or less potent depending on cellular metabolism.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This work is most relevant to people whose treatment responses depend on cellular drug sensitivity, such as patients with cancers or metabolic disorders.
Not a fit: People with conditions not related to cellular drug response or those looking for immediate clinical treatments are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this lab- and computer-based research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could help researchers design or choose drugs that work better by accounting for a patient’s cellular metabolic state.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies have shown that metabolism can change drug responses in specific cases, but this integrated, multiscale modeling approach is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Ann Arbor, United States
- University of Michigan at Ann Arbor — Ann Arbor, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chandrasekaran, Sriram — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Chandrasekaran, Sriram
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.