How different dietary fats affect pancreatic cancer start and growth
Official title: Impact of dietary lipids on pancreas cancer initiation and progression
Funded at University of California Los Angeles · NIH-11184343 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at whether specific kinds of high-fat diets speed up or slow the start and growth of pancreatic cancer to help people at risk understand dietary effects.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Los Angeles NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project start | September 5, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $147,263 |
| NIH project number | 5UH2CA286583-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11184343 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People concerned about pancreatic cancer risk—such as those with a family history, genetic predisposition, or obesity—would be most interested in the findings and potential future trials.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with unrelated medical conditions or those with advanced pancreatic cancer are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this preclinical, laboratory-focused work.
What this research studies
Researchers are using a mouse model that carries a common pancreatic cancer mutation to mimic how the disease can begin. They will feed mice two different high-fat diets chosen for their different types of fatty acids and observe effects on the pancreas over time. The team will profile individual pancreatic cells using single-cell RNA and chromatin sequencing and use a new tagging system to pull out acinar cells for detailed metabolite testing. By connecting changes in gene activity, chromatin state, and metabolism, they hope to reveal how diet-driven inflammation or epigenetic changes may prime the pancreas for tumor development.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to specific dietary fats that raise or lower pancreatic cancer risk and suggest new prevention strategies or early-detection targets.
How similar studies have gone: Previous animal and epidemiologic studies have linked obesity and high-fat diets to faster pancreatic cancer in mouse models and higher risk in people, but translating these findings to clear human guidance remains unproven.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California Los Angeles
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Christofk, Heather — University of California Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Christofk, Heather
Related research
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Memorial Sloan Kettering pancreas cancer program
This program uses advanced genetic testing and new treatment approaches to try to improve care for people with locally advanced or metastatic pancreas cancer.
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.