Investigating how belly fat affects breast cancer risk after menopause
Official title: Obesity, body fat distribution, and breast cancer risk: is visceral fat the culprit after menopause?
Funded at University of Michigan at Ann Arbor · NIH-10768733 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how extra belly fat might raise the risk of breast cancer in women after menopause, and it aims to find out how this happens so that better prevention strategies can be created for those at risk.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project start | February 1, 2023 |
| Project end | January 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $536,086 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA269726-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10768733 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are postmenopausal women who are experiencing weight gain and have a higher risk of developing breast cancer.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not postmenopausal or who do not have obesity may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research explores the connection between obesity, specifically the accumulation of visceral fat in the abdomen, and the increased risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal women. It aims to understand the biological mechanisms that link weight gain during menopause to cancer development, focusing on how fat tissue produces substances that may promote tumor growth. By using a preclinical rat model, the study will investigate how these factors interact and contribute to breast cancer risk, with the goal of developing targeted interventions for women at risk.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new strategies for reducing breast cancer risk in postmenopausal women with obesity.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding the relationship between obesity and cancer risk, suggesting that this approach could yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Giles, Erin — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Giles, Erin
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Is belly (visceral) fat raising breast cancer risk after menopause?
This project looks at whether gains in belly (visceral) fat during menopause help breast cancer develop and grow in women with obesity.
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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.