Investigating how pancreatic cancer cells adapt to low nutrient conditions
Official title: Role of PDK1 in pancreatic cancer cell fitness under tumor nutrient stress
Funded at University of Chicago · NIH-10991659 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at a tough type of cancer called pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) to understand how it survives in low-nutrient conditions, with the hope of finding new treatment options that could help patients like you.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Fellowship grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2023 |
| Project end | September 29, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $48,974 |
| NIH project number | 5F31CA278362-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10991659 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients diagnosed with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma who may benefit from novel therapeutic approaches.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with other types of cancer or those without pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma may not receive any benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), a highly aggressive cancer that struggles with nutrient shortages in its environment. The team has developed a special medium that mimics the nutrient conditions found in PDAC tumors, allowing them to study how these cancer cells survive and grow despite these challenges. By using advanced techniques like CRISPR interference, they aim to identify key metabolic pathways and vulnerabilities in PDAC cells that could be targeted for new treatments. This work could lead to better therapeutic strategies for patients suffering from this difficult-to-treat cancer.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatment options that specifically target the metabolic weaknesses of pancreatic cancer cells.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promise in targeting metabolic pathways in cancer, suggesting that this approach could yield significant insights and advancements.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Chicago
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sheehan, Colin — University of Chicago
- Study coordinator: Sheehan, Colin
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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.