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Diet, Lipid Metabolism, and Tumor Growth and Progression (DLT) Program

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The Diet, Lipid Metabolism, and Tumor Growth and Progression (DLT) Program is investigating mechanistic links between diet, lipid metabolism, and tumor growth/progression. This initiative also supports the development of new tools and models in an emerging area of research at the intersection of nutrition and molecular metabolism.

The Program aligns with the 2020 – 2030 Strategic Plan for NIH Nutrition Research, which “emphasizes cross-cutting, innovative opportunities to advance nutrition research across a wide range of areas":

  • Goal 1: Spur Discovery and Innovation through Foundational Research
  • Goal 4: Reduce the Burden of Disease in Clinical Settings

Investigators of the DLT Program are supporting progress towards these goals through fundamental studies of the role of diet and lipid metabolism in cancer and by identifying nutrition-related molecular interactions with tumor biology that could, ultimately, be leveraged to improve clinical cancer care. 

DLT Funding Opportunities

  • PAR-25-118: Mechanistic links between diet, lipid metabolism, and tumor growth and progression (UH2 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
  • PAR-25-119: Mechanistic links between diet, lipid metabolism, and tumor growth and progression (U01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

DLT News

New grants for the DLT Program were awarded in 2024 & 2025.

Drs. Nika Danial and Mariella Filbin with the Dana-Farber DLT Project are examining the role of dietary fatty acids in the growth of diffuse midline gliomas, a type of aggressive pediatric brain tumor. 

Dr. Evan Lien with the Van Andel Research Institute DLT Project is studying how diet-driven alterations to the balance of saturated vs. unsaturated fatty acids within tumors influences cancer progression and the response to therapy.

Drs. Tim Yeatman and Ganesh Halade with the University of South Florida DLT Project are investigating the role of arachidonic acid metabolism in modulating the immune microenvironment of colorectal cancer. 

Dr. Russell Jones with the Van Andel Research Institute DLT Project is studying how a calorie restricted diet promotes anti-tumor immunity and inhibits tumor growth. 

Drs. Heather Christofk, Guido Eibl, and Katherine Plath with the UCLA DLT Project are examining how diets enriched in specific fatty acids promote pancreatic cancer initiation and progression.

Drs. Amandine Chaix, Greg Ducker, and Keren Hilgendorf with the University of Utah DLT Project are studying mechanisms by which dietary lipids drive obesity-accelerated breast cancer growth and identifying potential metabolic vulnerabilities in breast tumors. 

Contacts for DLT 

For additional information about the DLT Program, please contact Dr. Kris Willis or Dr. Natalia Mercer.  

Funded Projects

DLT Research Projects (U01s)

InstitutionPrincipal Investigator(s)Project Title
Dana-Farber Cancer InstituteNika N. Danial, Mariella G. FilbinMechanism and functional consequences of dietary lipids in lineage specification and tumor growth in oncohistone gliomas
University of South FloridaTim Yeatman, Ganesh HaladeInterrogating the role of arachidonic acid metabolism in modulating the tumor immune microenvironment as a novel path to therapeutic intervention
Van Andel Research InstituteEvan C. LienDiet-mediated regulation of fatty acid saturation impacts cancer progression and therapy responses
Van Andel Research InstituteRussell JonesDietary regulation of anti-tumor immunity through caloric restriction

DLT Exploratory/Developmental Research Projects (UH2)

InstitutionPrincipal Investigator(s)Project Title
University of California, Los AngelesHeather Christofk, Guido Eibl, Katherine PlathImpact of dietary lipids on pancreas cancer initiation and progression
University of UtahAmandine Chaix, Greg Ducker, Keren HilgendorfDietary lipids as drivers and therapeutic targets in obesity-accelerated breast cancer
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