Mapping metabolic changes in ovarian cancer
Deep Ovarian Cancer Metabolomics
This project looks for chemical signals in blood and ovarian tissue that could help detect and understand ovarian cancer earlier in women.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Georgia Institute of Technology NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11162436 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You should know the team studies high-grade serous ovarian cancer using mouse models that mimic the human disease and looks for changes in the small molecules (metabolites) in blood and ovarian tissue. They use advanced metabolomics methods to profile how metabolism shifts from very early disease through progression. Early work in these animal models has produced candidate biomarker panels and pointed to ovarian progesterone as a factor that helps tumors develop. The long-term aim is to turn these findings into markers or tests that could be used in women to find cancer sooner.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be women at increased risk for ovarian cancer (for example, those with BRCA1/2 mutations) or patients willing to donate blood or tissue samples for biomarker research.
Not a fit: People without ovarian cancer risk or those not willing to provide samples are unlikely to receive direct benefits from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to blood- or tissue-based markers that detect ovarian cancer earlier and improve survival.
How similar studies have performed: Prior metabolomics and biomarker studies have shown promise in early-stage and animal research, but reliable human screening tests for ovarian cancer are still lacking.
Where this research is happening
Atlanta, United States
- Georgia Institute of Technology — Atlanta, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fernandez, Facundo Martin — Georgia Institute of Technology
- Study coordinator: Fernandez, Facundo Martin
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 below.