How diet and fuel use affect stem cells, obesity, and cancer risk
Nutrient fuel preference, obesity, and stem cell lineage physiology
Researchers are looking at how the nutrients the body uses change stem cells and how those changes may tie to obesity and cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Wisconsin-Madison NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Madison, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11143718 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project uses fruit flies to follow how stem cell lineages in the ovary change their metabolism as they mature and in response to diet. Scientists manipulate diet, hormones, and fat-transport pathways and then track how cells use lipids, carbohydrates, and amino acids during egg development. The team links these cellular metabolic shifts to whole-body signals from the brain and adipose-like tissues. Although the experiments are in flies, the pathways studied are conserved and may help explain connections between nutrition, obesity, and cancer in humans.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This grant does not enroll people currently, but its findings may later be most relevant to people with obesity or those at higher risk for obesity-related cancers.
Not a fit: Because the experiments are done in fruit flies and are basic laboratory research, patients should not expect direct clinical benefits from this grant at this time.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal biological pathways that point to new ways to prevent or treat obesity-related cancers by targeting stem cell metabolism.
How similar studies have performed: Prior work in model organisms and cell systems has uncovered metabolic pathways relevant to human obesity and cancer, but turning those basic findings into human therapies will require further research.
Where this research is happening
Madison, United States
- University of Wisconsin-Madison — Madison, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Drummond-Barbosa, Daniela — University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Study coordinator: Drummond-Barbosa, Daniela
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.