Q&A with Dr. Ting Fu: Exploring the Role of Bile Acids in Colon Cancer

During the midst of COVID-19 pandemic in late 2020, Ting Fu, PhD, felt fortunate to secure a job as an assistant professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The task of starting a new research lab is challenging enough in normal times and was made even more so by the pandemic.

Just as she was running out of startup funds from her university, Fu was awarded the 2024 PhRMA Foundation Faculty Starter Grant in Drug Discovery. “Receiving the PhRMA Foundation award at this critical time has been transformative,” she said.

The PhF award will support her lab’s research on the link between bile acid dysregulation in the gut and metabolic-related diseases such as colon cancer. Fu is investigating two specific bile acids, one that has potential as a diagnostic indicator and another that has potential as a therapeutic for colon cancer.

Watch this video to learn about Fu and her research.

Learn more about the PhRMA Foundation’s fellowship and grant opportunities. Check out more researcher stories on our blog.