How stem cells renew tissues and cancer development, using planarians
Official title: Mechanisms of Stem Cell Regulation during Tissue Renewal and Cancer Development
Funded at University of California, Merced · NIH-11388616 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A scientist team at UC Merced studies how stem cells renew tissues and how DNA damage can lead to cancer, using a planarian model to understand early changes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, Merced NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Merced, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2025 |
| Project end | May 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $423,890 |
| NIH project number | 5R35GM158501-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11388616 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not directly a patient-facing trial; findings could eventually benefit adults at risk for cancers related to epithelial tissues.
✕Less likely to help
The grant itself does not enroll patients or provide direct treatment.
What this research studies
This project aims to uncover how stem cells survive DNA damage and begin unchecked growth during normal tissue renewal in adults. By using planarian flatworms, researchers will observe stem cell behavior in a living system where tissue turnover is constant. They will examine how surrounding tissues influence these decisions and how double-strand DNA breaks may drive transformation. The work seeks to map fundamental mechanisms that connect tissue renewal to cancer risk, potentially revealing new targets for prevention. The study runs from 2025 to 2030 at UC Merced and involves cutting-edge modeling of cellular responses in a whole-organism context.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Understanding these mechanisms could lead to new strategies to prevent cancer by preserving healthy tissue renewal processes.
How similar studies have gone: Planarian models have shown promise in studying regeneration and cancer-related pathways, though translating findings to humans remains a future step.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, Merced
Merced, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Oviedo, Nestor J — University of California, Merced
- Study coordinator: Oviedo, Nestor J
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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.