Understanding how fluids move through dense tumors
Official title: Computational and theoretical fluid mechanics modeling for transport in dense tumors
Funded at North Dakota State University · NIH-11143128 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project builds computer and lab models to map how fluids and drugs flow into dense tumors, with a focus on pancreatic cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | North Dakota State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Fargo, United States) |
| Project start | March 1, 2016 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $99,499 |
| NIH project number | 5P20GM109024-09 |
| Project ID | NIH-11143128 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with dense solid tumors such as pancreatic cancer, or those willing to share imaging data or tumor samples for research, would be the most relevant contributors to this project.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without dense solid tumors or those looking for immediate therapeutic benefit are unlikely to gain direct clinical improvements from this modeling-focused work.
What this research studies
Researchers will create advanced computer fluid-dynamics models to simulate how liquid moves through the spaces inside dense tumors. They will base their simulations on CT images of human pancreatic tumors grown in mice and will test model predictions in lab experiments using microfluidic devices and artificial tumor spheroids. The team will combine established fluid laws with detailed geometry and tissue-fiber packing information to predict perfusion patterns. The goal is to create a validated in-silico framework that works across many tumor shapes and tissue conditions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help doctors predict where imaging agents and drugs reach inside tumors, potentially improving diagnosis and delivery of therapies.
How similar studies have gone: Related small-scale modeling and microfluidic experiments have shown promise, but this integrated CFD-informed approach is more comprehensive and relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
North Dakota State University
Fargo, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Basu, Saikat — North Dakota State University
- Study coordinator: Basu, Saikat
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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.