Understanding how polyamines work in human cells (a potential cancer focus)
Official title: Elucidating the molecular and cellular functions of polyamines
Funded at Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Res · NIH-11398143 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are studying how small molecules called polyamines help cancer-related cell growth and survival, with new ways to measure them inside living cells.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Res NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cambridge, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $487,500 |
| NIH project number | 5R35GM151111-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11398143 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with cancers where polyamine metabolism is altered could be relevant for future translational efforts or clinical trials tied to this research.
✕Less likely to help
Direct patient benefit from this project may not be immediate and depends on future translation of findings.
What this research studies
Polyamines are essential cellular compounds that affect DNA, transcription, translation, autophagy, and stress responses. This project aims to develop new quantitative tests to measure polyamine levels in living cells and to uncover how cells regulate polyamine uptake and homeostasis. By revealing the molecular roles of polyamines, the work could point to new strategies for cancer therapy. The research will be conducted at a leading biomedical institute with advanced techniques and rigorous methods.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could open new avenues for cancer treatments by targeting polyamine pathways.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows polyamine metabolism is linked to cancer and disease risk, but precise cellular roles are still being clarified.
Where this research is happening
-
Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Res
Cambridge, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jain, Ankur — Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Res
- Study coordinator: Jain, Ankur
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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.