Understanding how cells regenerate after radiation damage using fruit flies

Cellular plasticity and regeneration afterradiation damage in Drosophila

NIH-funded research University of Colorado · NIH-11056887

This study is looking at how tissues heal after being hurt by radiation used in cancer treatment, using fruit flies to find out which genes and proteins help with this healing, and the goal is to discover ways to make radiation therapy work better for people by stopping tumors from coming back.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Colorado NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Boulder, UNITED STATES)
Project IDNIH-11056887 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research investigates how tissues regenerate after being damaged by ionizing radiation, a common treatment for cancer. Using the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster, the study aims to identify the genes and proteins involved in the regeneration process and develop tools to manipulate these regulators. By employing advanced genetic and chemical techniques, the researchers will explore the mechanisms of cell death and regeneration, which may provide insights applicable to human cancer treatments. The findings could help improve the effectiveness of radiation therapy by preventing tumor regeneration.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are cancer patients who have undergone or are undergoing radiation therapy.

Not a fit: Patients who have not received radiation therapy or those with non-cancerous conditions may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved cancer treatments that prevent tumor regrowth after radiation therapy.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown that findings from Drosophila can be relevant to human cancer models, indicating potential success in this approach.

Where this research is happening

Boulder, 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 anti-cancer therapycancer cellCancer ModelCancer Patientcancer radiation therapy
Last reviewed 2026-06-15 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.