Limiting mitochondrial metabolites that drive liver cancer growth
Official title: Identification of Limiting Mitochondrial Metabolites for the Initiation and Progression of Liver Cancers
Funded at Rockefeller University · NIH-11456021 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are studying how certain mitochondrial chemicals change in liver cancer to find new ways to stop tumor growth.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rockefeller University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2026 |
| Project end | June 30, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $559,596 |
| NIH project number | 1R01CA308066-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11456021 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with hepatocellular carcinoma or liver cancer who might benefit from future therapies targeting mitochondrial metabolism.
✕Less likely to help
No direct benefit to patients during the basic mechanistic discovery phase; future therapies would require additional clinical development.
What this research studies
This project looks at how cancer in the liver rewires its metabolism and uses a fast organelle-purification method to measure mitochondrial metabolites directly from healthy and cancerous liver tissue. By combining mito-IP with advanced mass spectrometry, the team aims to map metabolic changes linked to specific genetic drivers in liver cancer. Understanding these mitochondrial changes could reveal new targets for therapies that disrupt cancer cell energy and biosynthesis. The work is conducted in the lab at Rockefeller University to translate metabolic insight into potential treatments for hepatocellular carcinoma.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could identify new mitochondrial targets for drugs to treat liver cancer.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown that mitochondrial metabolism supports liver cancer growth, and metabolic profiling can reveal actionable targets.
Where this research is happening
-
Rockefeller University
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Birsoy, Kivanc — Rockefeller University
- Study coordinator: Birsoy, Kivanc
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.