Immune cells and growth-factor signals in aggressive breast cancer disparities
Official title: Immune Microenvironments and Hepatocyte Growth Factor Signaling Interactions in Breast Cancer Disparities
Funded at North Carolina Central University · NIH-11111286 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Looking at how immune cells and a growth signal called HGF interact in aggressive breast cancers that affect some communities more, to better understand why outcomes differ.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | North Carolina Central University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project start | September 20, 2017 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $241,807 |
| NIH project number | 5U54MD012392-09 |
| Project ID | NIH-11111286 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be people diagnosed with basal-like (hormone receptor–negative) or inflammatory breast cancer, especially from populations with higher mortality who can provide tissue samples or clinical data.
✕Less likely to help
People with non-aggressive, hormone receptor–positive breast cancers or unrelated health conditions are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
What this research studies
Researchers will compare immune and stromal cells and protein signals in tumor and normal breast tissue from people with aggressive breast cancers, especially basal-like and inflammatory types. They will examine differences between population groups that experience higher death rates to find patterns linked to worse outcomes. Lab models and human tissue samples will be used to trace how stromal cells and HGF signaling may help tumors grow and spread. The goal is to reveal population-specific mechanisms that could point to better ways to detect or treat these lethal breast cancers.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify biological reasons for worse outcomes in some groups and point to new targets or strategies to improve detection and treatment of aggressive breast cancers.
How similar studies have gone: Prior research has shown the tumor immune environment matters for outcomes, but studying HGF-driven stromal interactions in the context of population disparities is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
-
North Carolina Central University
Durham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Williams, Kevin Peter — North Carolina Central University
- Study coordinator: Williams, Kevin Peter
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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.