Modeling how tumors grow and metabolize in their environment
Official title: Spatio-temporal mechanistic modeling of whole-cell tumor metabolism
Funded at Boston University (Charles River Campus) · NIH-10831070 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how tumors grow and change in their surroundings to help find better ways to treat cancer, so patients can have more effective therapies based on what we learn.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston University (Charles River Campus) NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2023 |
| Project end | April 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $219,843 |
| NIH project number | 5R21CA279630-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10831070 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with various types of cancer who are seeking innovative treatment options.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with non-malignant conditions or those not currently undergoing cancer treatment may not receive benefits from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the metabolic characteristics of tumors and their surrounding environments to better understand cancer development and treatment strategies. By utilizing advanced computational methods, the project aims to create detailed models that simulate tumor growth dynamics and metabolism in a three-dimensional context. The approach combines high-throughput data with insights from cellular biophysics to forecast how tumors behave and respond to therapies. Patients may benefit from improved therapeutic strategies derived from these insights.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective cancer treatments by providing a deeper understanding of tumor metabolism and growth.
How similar studies have gone: While there have been successful studies using mathematical models in cancer research, the specific combination of 3D spatio-temporal dynamics with detailed metabolism modeling is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Boston University (Charles River Campus)
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Segre, Daniel — Boston University (Charles River Campus)
- Study coordinator: Segre, Daniel
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.