Investigating how bacteria influence cancer development using advanced protein analysis techniques.
Official title: An enabling approach for deep metaproteomic characterization ofmicrobial contributors to tumorigenesis in clinical samples
Funded at University of Minnesota · NIH-11063451 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how bacteria in tumors might affect cancer growth, using special techniques to find bacterial proteins in patient samples, which could help us understand how these microbes interact with cancer and lead to new treatment options.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Minnesota NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Minneapolis, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2025 |
| Project end | March 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $221,456 |
| NIH project number | 1R61CA291168-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11063451 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are cancer patients who are undergoing biopsy procedures and have tumors that may be influenced by microbial activity.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with non-cancerous conditions or those who do not have tumors will likely not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding the role of bacteria in the tumor microenvironment and how they may contribute to cancer development. By using a novel method to enrich bacterial proteins from clinical samples like biopsies, the study aims to enhance the detection of these proteins through advanced mass spectrometry techniques. This approach could provide insights into the interactions between microbes and cancer cells, potentially leading to new therapeutic strategies. Patients' clinical samples will be analyzed to uncover the mechanisms by which bacteria may influence tumorigenesis.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new insights into cancer mechanisms and potentially novel treatments targeting microbial interactions.
How similar studies have gone: While the approach of using metaproteomics in cancer research is gaining traction, this specific method of enriching microbes from clinical samples is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Griffin, Timothy J. — University of Minnesota
- Study coordinator: Griffin, Timothy 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.