NIH-funded research Fellowship grant

Investigating the role of a protein in pancreatic cancer development

Official title: Role of Gastrokine 2 in pancreatic cancer development

Funded at Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · NIH-10884874 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study is looking at a protein called Gastrokine 2 that is usually found in the stomach, to see how it might affect the growth of pancreatic cancer, with the hope of finding new ways to help people with this type of cancer.

More Pancreatic Cancer research and trials

Quick facts

Grant typeFellowship grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniv of North Carolina Chapel Hill
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Chapel Hill, United States)
Project startJuly 12, 2023
Project endJuly 11, 2025
Funding year2024
Award (this year)$40,491
NIH project number5F31CA278589-02
Project IDNIH-10884874 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma or those at high risk for developing this type of cancer.

Less likely to help

Patients with other types of cancer or those without pancreatic cancer risk factors may not benefit from this research.

What this research studies

This research focuses on understanding how Gastrokine 2 (Gkn2), a protein normally found in stomach cells, may influence the development of pancreatic cancer. Researchers will explore how Gkn2 expression changes in pancreatic cancer cells and its potential role in cancer progression. By examining the mechanisms behind Gkn2's involvement, the study aims to uncover new insights that could lead to better treatment strategies for pancreatic cancer patients.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new therapeutic targets for pancreatic cancer, potentially improving survival rates.

How similar studies have gone: While the role of Gastrokine 2 in pancreatic cancer is still being explored, similar studies on other proteins have shown promise in understanding cancer mechanisms and developing new treatments.

Where this research is happening

  • Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
    Chapel Hill, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Bell, Whitney Jean — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
  • Study coordinator: Bell, Whitney Jean

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.