InteroCANCEption: How tumors and the brain talk to each other
Official title: InteroCANCEption - Crosstalk Between Cancer and the Central Nervous System
Funded at Salk Institute for Biological Studies · NIH-11541105 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A scientist team at a top research center is studying how cancer communicates with the nervous system to influence tumor growth, immunity, and symptoms, using mouse models and brain/nerve mapping.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Salk Institute for Biological Studies NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | April 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $890,867 |
| NIH project number | 1OT2CA321946-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11541105 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are patients and families affected by brain or lung cancer in the future translational phases or related human studies, depending on study progression and ethical approvals.
✕Less likely to help
As a primarily preclinical project, immediate patient benefits are contingent on subsequent human studies and trials.
What this research studies
This project explores how cancer and the nervous system influence each other, focusing on the body–brain sensing of tumor state. Researchers will build maps of how tumors connect with peripheral nerves and brainstem, and how tumor genetics change these signals. They will use mouse models to compare different lung cancer settings, tracing neural connections and combining this with single-cell RNA data to identify tumor-engaged neurons. The team will test cause-and-effect by selectively activating specific neuronal cell types to observe changes in tumor biology and systemic symptoms. The work aims to shift thinking toward a host-centered view of cancer that could guide new therapeutic strategies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to novel ways to modulate the nervous system to slow cancer progression and reduce cancer-related symptoms.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that nerves can influence tumor growth in some cancers, but a comprehensive cross-cancer mapping and causality framework is still emerging.
Where this research is happening
-
Salk Institute for Biological Studies
La Jolla, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Papagiannakopoulos, Thales — Salk Institute for Biological Studies
- Study coordinator: Papagiannakopoulos, Thales
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.