Propionate metabolism’s role in lung cancer progression and drug resistance
Official title: The Role of Propionate Metabolism in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Funded at Ohio State University · NIH-11333755 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A physician-scientist is studying how a little-known metabolic pathway, propionate metabolism, may drive metastasis and drug resistance in non-small cell lung cancer and how targeting it could help patients.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ohio State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Columbus, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | June 12, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $191,605 |
| NIH project number | 5K08CA279653-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11333755 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with non-small cell lung cancer, particularly those whose disease has progressed or is resistant to current therapies.
✕Less likely to help
Early-stage patients without NSCLC or those not undergoing metabolic profiling may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This grant explores how changes in propionate metabolism, including the MMA molecule and MMAB gene, influence NSCLC behavior such as spread and treatment resistance. The approach uses modern molecular and cellular techniques, including CRISPR-based methods, to map how metabolic signals affect cancer cells and their response to therapy. By linking metabolic dysregulation to disease progression, the work aims to identify new angles for treatment that could complement existing therapies for NSCLC.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could lead to new therapeutic strategies that slow metastasis and overcome drug resistance in NSCLC.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary data suggest metabolism can influence cancer progression, but the specific role of propionate metabolism in NSCLC is novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Ohio State University
Columbus, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Parang, Bobak — Ohio State University
- Study coordinator: Parang, Bobak
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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.