Understanding Rare Human Cancers by Comparing Them Across Many Mammals

Leveraging Mammalian Cancers, Platinum-Quality Genome Assemblies, and Large-Scale Data to Identify Mechanisms of Rare Human Cancers

NIH-funded research University of Florida · NIH-11140394

This project looks at cancers in many different mammals, including humans, to find new ways to understand and treat rare human cancers.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Florida NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Gainesville, United States)
Project IDNIH-11140394 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This project aims to understand why some cancers start and grow, and why some animals might be more resistant to cancer, by looking at tumors from many different mammals, including humans. Researchers will create a large collection of tumor information and use computer tools to find patterns in the genetic makeup of these cancers. By comparing cancers across many species, we hope to uncover new insights into human cancer development and potential treatments. This approach combines high-quality genetic data from hundreds of mammalian species with advanced machine learning to reveal the evolutionary roots of cancer.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Patients with rare human cancers might eventually benefit from the insights gained from this broad comparative approach.

Not a fit: Patients whose cancers are not rare or are already well-understood may not directly benefit from this specific comparative research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: This work could lead to new discoveries about how human cancers develop and new ideas for treating rare human cancers by learning from the natural world.

How similar studies have performed: While comparative oncology is an established field, this project's large-scale, pan-mammalian approach with advanced machine learning is a novel and largely untested strategy.

Where this research is happening

Gainesville, 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 Cancer GenesCancer ModelCancer PatientCancer TreatmentCancer-Promoting Gene
Last reviewed 2026-06-10 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.