How dietary fats contribute to pancreatic cancer

Dietary fatty acids drive pancreatic cancer development

NIH-funded research Yale University · NIH-11110339

This work explores how certain fats in our diet might encourage pancreatic cancer to grow, especially in people who are obese.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionYale University NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (New Haven, United States)
Project IDNIH-11110339 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

Pancreatic cancer is a very serious disease, and we know that obesity and diets high in fat can increase the risk and speed up its progression. This project aims to understand exactly how specific types of dietary fats, like oleic acid, affect the development of pancreatic tumors. Researchers are using advanced models to see how these fats are taken up by the body and change cells in the pancreas. By uncovering these connections, we hope to find new ways to prevent or treat this challenging cancer.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: This foundational research is not directly recruiting patients but aims to benefit individuals at risk for or diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, particularly those with obesity or high-fat diets.

Not a fit: Patients who do not have pancreatic cancer or are not at risk due to dietary factors may not directly benefit from this specific line of inquiry.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new dietary recommendations or treatments to reduce the risk or slow the progression of pancreatic cancer.

How similar studies have performed: While the link between diet, obesity, and pancreatic cancer is recognized, this project uses a unique approach to pinpoint specific dietary fats, making its findings potentially novel.

Where this research is happening

New Haven, 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.
Conditions Cancer CauseCancer EtiologyCancers
Last reviewed 2026-06-10 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.