Investigating how mitochondrial function affects colorectal cancer
Official title: Mitochondrial bioenergetics and colorectal cancer
Funded at Wake Forest University Health Sciences · NIH-11039945 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how changes in the DNA of tiny energy factories in our cells, called mitochondria, might affect the growth of colorectal cancer, with the hope of finding new ways to treat the disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R37 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Wake Forest University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Winston-Salem, United States) |
| Project start | February 19, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $544,126 |
| NIH project number | 5R37CA278826-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11039945 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with colorectal cancer, particularly those with advanced disease or specific mitochondrial mutations.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with non-colorectal cancers or those without mitochondrial mutations may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research explores the role of mitochondrial DNA mutations in colorectal cancer (CRC) and how these mutations impact tumor growth and metabolism. By analyzing the differences in mitochondrial function between cancerous and normal tissues, the study aims to uncover the mechanisms by which these mutations contribute to cancer development. The approach includes using human CRC mitochondria to assess bioenergetic deficiencies and the effects of pharmacological interventions on tumor growth. Patients may benefit from insights that could lead to new therapeutic strategies targeting mitochondrial dysfunction in CRC.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to innovative treatments that specifically target mitochondrial dysfunction in colorectal cancer, potentially improving patient outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promising results in targeting mitochondrial dysfunction in various cancers, suggesting that this approach may be effective for colorectal cancer as well.
Where this research is happening
-
Wake Forest University Health Sciences
Winston-Salem, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fisher-Wellman, Kelsey H — Wake Forest University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Fisher-Wellman, Kelsey H
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Improving colorectal cancer screening and follow-up care.
This study is working to help more people get screened for colorectal cancer and receive the follow-up care they need, especially those who haven't been screened much before, so that everyone can have better access to important health checks and improve their overall health.
-
Colorectal cancer prognosis through a broad, collaborative study
A large, multi-center study follows people newly diagnosed with colorectal cancer to find biomarkers and patterns that predict outcomes and guide future care.
-
Ceramides and how they affect metabolism and colorectal cancer in adults
A study in adults with obesity-related health issues will explore how a fat-related molecule called ceramide influences metabolic problems and colorectal cancer risk.
-
Automated point-of-care DNA methylation test for colorectal cancer in LMICs
A fast, affordable blood test using DNA markers to help identify people at higher risk of colorectal cancer in low- and middle-income countries.
-
Rewiring Colorectal Cancer to Harness Therapeutic Hyperactivation
A Yale team is exploring brain-storming new ways to treat colorectal cancer by safely boosting certain cancer signaling pathways to kill cancer cells and by reshaping cancer cell states to improve responses to existing therapies.
-
Comparative modeling to guide colorectal cancer screening and care
A researcher team will use computer models to study how access to care, risk, and new screening options affect colorectal cancer outcomes and costs for adults in the US.
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.