Dallin Lowder
Testing a New Approach for Regulating Lipid Metabolism, a Driver of Prostate Cancer
Summary
Prostate cancer is the most common and second most lethal cancer in American men. Multiple studies show men with more aggressive prostate cancer have increased dysregulation of lipid metabolism, which plays an essential role in tumor development and progression. Yet there are currently no FDA-approved medicines targeting dysregulated lipid metabolism in men with prostate cancer. Sterol regulatory element binding proteins (SREBPs) are a driver of lipid metabolism in prostate cancer. I propose that we can treat aggressive prostate cancer by shutting down SREBPs. My project will increase our understanding of how genetic and pharmacologic targeting of SREBPs affects lipid metabolism and prostate cancer development. My research will characterize the effects of our novel SREBP inhibitor using cutting-edge cell models and mouse models of prostate cancer. These preclinical studies of our SREBP inhibitor pave the way for future clinical trials and ultimately a first-in-class lipid metabolism inhibitor that can improve outcomes for patients with lethal prostate cancer.
The Predoctoral Drug Discovery Fellowship is opening doors for my career and providing invaluable support, networking, and resources to me as a first-generation scientist and aspiring biotechnology innovator. I am humbled to be a recipient and proud to represent the PhRMA Foundation with my research.
