Reprogramming PDAC stroma by targeting blood clotting in the tumor environment
Official title: Reprogramming PDAC Stroma by Targeting Coagulation in the Tumor Microenvironment
Funded at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign · NIH-11416346 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A cancer research grant aimed at turning the tough, fibrous pancreatic cancer environment into one that helps treatments work better and supports the body’s immune response.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Champaign, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $932,455 |
| NIH project number | 5U01CA274304-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-11416346 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) could potentially benefit from therapies developed from this research as it targets tumor microenvironment factors relevant to their disease.
✕Less likely to help
If the coagulation pathways do not drive the specific stromal barriers in a patient, they may not benefit from this approach.
What this research studies
This project looks at pancreatic cancer and asks whether targeting the blood clotting system inside tumors can change the surrounding tissue to be more friendly to chemotherapy and immune cells. By focusing on thrombin, PAR1, and fibrin/fibrinogen, researchers hope to reprogram the tumor’s stroma rather than destroying it. The goal is to reduce barriers to drug delivery and relieve immunosuppression that helps the cancer grow. The work combines animal models and biology to explore how coagulation signals influence cancer progression and treatment resistance.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could improve the effectiveness of chemotherapy and immune-based therapies for pancreatic cancer.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies show the stromal environment influences treatment responses, but strategies that reprogram rather than ablate stroma are still being explored and show promise.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Champaign, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Han, Bumsoo — University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
- Study coordinator: Han, Bumsoo
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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.