How gut bacteria affect cancer through amino acid metabolism
Official title: The role of microbiota amino acid metabolism in cancer
Funded at Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ · NIH-11105385 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how the bacteria in our gut might affect cancer by seeing how they use amino acids, and it's for anyone interested in understanding how these tiny microbes could help in preventing or treating cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2025 |
| Project end | May 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $606,839 |
| NIH project number | 1R01CA299862-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11105385 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are cancer patients or individuals at high risk for developing cancer who are interested in the role of gut health in their condition.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with non-cancerous conditions or those who do not have any gastrointestinal issues may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the relationship between gut bacteria and cancer by focusing on how these microbes metabolize amino acids. The team aims to identify specific bacteria and their genes that deplete amino acids in the intestines and how this depletion influences tumor progression and the tumor microenvironment. By using advanced techniques such as bioinformatics, metabolomics, and mouse models, they will manipulate these microbial pathways to better understand their role in cancer development. Ultimately, the goal is to create engineered gut bacteria that could help prevent or treat cancer.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new strategies for cancer prevention and treatment by targeting gut microbiota.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding the role of microbiota in cancer, indicating that this approach has potential for success.
Where this research is happening
-
Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Guo, Chun-Jun — Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ
- Study coordinator: Guo, Chun-Jun
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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.