Searching fungi for new cancer-fighting medicines
Project 3:Isolation Chemistry of Filamentous Fungi and Biological Evaluation
Researchers are turning fungi into potential new drugs to help people with cancers that no longer respond to standard treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ohio State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Columbus, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11198507 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
The team is screening thousands of fungal samples to find natural compounds that can kill cancer cells. Promising molecules are purified, chemically optimized, and produced in larger amounts so they can be tested in lab and animal experiments. Some leads have already shrunk tumors in animal models of ovarian and lung cancer, and researchers are working on drug-like versions and studies of dosing and metabolism. The work is being done in university and industry labs and focuses on turning fungal metabolites into candidates for future clinical trials.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients with cancers that have stopped responding to current treatments—for example certain ovarian or lung cancers—would be the most likely future candidates for trials based on these leads.
Not a fit: People without cancer or whose tumors respond well to existing therapies are unlikely to benefit from this preclinical project in the near term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could produce new treatment options for people with drug-resistant cancers.
How similar studies have performed: Natural-product drug discovery has produced important medicines and some fungal-derived compounds have shown promise in animal tests, but turning such leads into approved cancer drugs is challenging and uncommon.
Where this research is happening
Columbus, UNITED STATES
- Ohio State University — Columbus, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Oberlies, Nicholas H. — Ohio State University
- Study coordinator: Oberlies, Nicholas H.
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.