Understanding how cells handle stress to keep tissues healthy

Elucidating the role of the Integrated Stress Response pathway in tissue homeostasis

NIH-funded research University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · NIH-11145028

This research explores how a natural process called the Integrated Stress Response helps our cells stay healthy and how it might be involved in diseases like cancer.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Pittsburgh, United States)
Project IDNIH-11145028 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

Our bodies have special ways to cope with stress, like when cells don't get enough nutrients or face harmful conditions. One important way is through the Integrated Stress Response (ISR), a pathway that helps cells adapt and survive. While we know the ISR is vital for maintaining healthy tissues, especially in organs like the liver and fat, we don't fully understand the detailed steps of how it works. This project aims to uncover the precise molecular and cellular mechanisms of the ISR, using fruit flies as a model to gain new insights into its role in keeping tissues healthy.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Patients with conditions related to cellular stress or cancer may eventually benefit from the knowledge gained from this foundational research.

Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate clinical interventions or direct treatment options would not directly benefit from this basic science research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to a deeper understanding of how cellular stress contributes to diseases like cancer and potentially identify new targets for future treatments.

How similar studies have performed: While the Integrated Stress Response pathway is known, this research focuses on uncovering the precise molecular and cellular mechanisms of its regulation in tissue health, which are currently not well understood.

Where this research is happening

Pittsburgh, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions Cancers
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.