Iron and ferroptosis: how iron metabolism shapes a cell’s self-destruction in cancer
Official title: A chemical genetics approach to defining the role of iron metabolism in ferroptosis regulation
Funded at St. John's University · NIH-11406117 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A researcher at ST. John’s University is testing how iron in cancer cells affects ferroptosis, a unique form of cell death, to find new ways to influence tumor behavior.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | St. John's University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Queens, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2025 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $150,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R16GM153395-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11406117 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be patients with cancers where ferroptosis pathways are relevant or where iron metabolism is dysregulated, contributing to future translational efforts.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with cancers not linked to ferroptosis or iron metabolism may not directly benefit from this basic science study.
What this research studies
This project uses a specially engineered 293T cell line to watch how iron levels change in live cells and how those changes influence ferroptosis. The team will study how iron regulatory protein 2 (IRP2) controls this process and whether salinomycin affects lysosomal changes that alter ferroptosis sensitivity. The goal is to map the molecular links between iron metabolism and ferroptosis to reveal potential targets for cancer therapies. The work combines cell biology, chemical genetics, and new iron-tracking tools to understand why some cancer cells may be more or less vulnerable to this form of cell death.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify new targets to make cancer cells more vulnerable to ferroptosis, potentially guiding novel treatments.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that iron metabolism can influence ferroptosis, but this study uses a novel live-cell iron reporter to deepen understanding.
Where this research is happening
-
St. John's University
Queens, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yang, Wan S. — St. John's University
- Study coordinator: Yang, Wan S.
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.