Understanding how serine codons affect pancreatic cancer growth
Official title: Elucidating The Adaptive Role Of Serine Codons During Pancreatic Tumorigenesis
Funded at New York University School of Medicine · NIH-11051120 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how certain building blocks of proteins, called serine codons, help a tough type of pancreatic cancer survive when there aren’t enough nutrients around, and it hopes to find new ways to treat this cancer by testing how a diet without serine and glycine affects tumor growth.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R37 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New York University School of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | March 6, 2024 |
| Project end | February 28, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $504,559 |
| NIH project number | 5R37CA289040-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11051120 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients diagnosed with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma who may benefit from novel dietary interventions or targeted therapies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with other types of cancer or those not diagnosed with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma may not receive benefits from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the role of serine codons in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDAC), a highly aggressive cancer with a poor prognosis. It focuses on how PDAC cells adapt to low amino acid environments, particularly through the regulation of mRNA translation efficiencies of specific codons. By exploring the impact of a serine/glycine-free diet on tumor growth, the research aims to identify new therapeutic strategies that could inhibit the survival pathways of cancer cells under nutrient deprivation. The ultimate goal is to develop treatments that can improve patient outcomes by targeting these adaptive mechanisms.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to innovative therapies that significantly reduce tumor growth in pancreatic cancer patients.
How similar studies have gone: While the specific approach of targeting serine codons in PDAC is novel, similar dietary interventions have shown promise in other cancer types.
Where this research is happening
-
New York University School of Medicine
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Banh, Robert Singhung — New York University School of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Banh, Robert Singhung
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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.