Investigating how certain carbon compounds affect cancer metabolism
Official title: Hyperpolarized 13C probes for the one carbon metabolism
Funded at Ut Southwestern Medical Center · NIH-10647293 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how cancer cells use certain nutrients to grow quickly, focusing on a process called one-carbon metabolism, and it hopes to find new ways to measure these changes without needing any invasive procedures.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ut Southwestern Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Dallas, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $451,000 |
| NIH project number | 1R21EB034413-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10647293 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults over 21 years old who are diagnosed with various types of cancer.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with non-malignant conditions or those under 21 years old may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding one-carbon metabolism, a crucial network of metabolic pathways that are often altered in cancer cells. By examining how the folate cycle operates in both the cytoplasm and mitochondria, the study aims to uncover how cancer cells utilize these pathways to support their rapid growth. The researchers will explore the production and transport of formate, a key component in this process, and how it can be measured non-invasively. This could lead to new insights into cancer biology and potential diagnostic methods.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to innovative non-invasive imaging techniques for monitoring cancer metabolism in real-time.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding cancer metabolism, but this specific approach using hyperpolarized carbon probes is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Ut Southwestern Medical Center
Dallas, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kovacs, Zoltan — Ut Southwestern Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Kovacs, Zoltan
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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.