A new toolset to study how protein modifications work in human cells
Official title: A genetically encoded toolset to decipher the biology of post-translational modifications in the mammalian proteome
Funded at Boston College · NIH-11380694 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A researcher is developing advanced methods to insert specific chemical changes into proteins inside living human cells to learn how these modifications affect function and disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston College NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chestnut Hill, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2020 |
| Project end | July 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $596,750 |
| NIH project number | 5R35GM136437-07 |
| Project ID | NIH-11380694 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with autoimmune diseases or cancers could ultimately benefit from improved insights into disease biology and more precise therapeutic strategies.
✕Less likely to help
There may be no direct benefit to participants in the initial basic science development phase.
What this research studies
This project aims to create and optimize methods that place precise post-translational modifications on proteins in mammalian cells, using genetic code expansion and noncanonical amino acids. By making site-specific modifications in living cells, researchers can study how these changes influence protein behavior in real biological contexts. The work focuses on overcoming current technical barriers to apply these techniques broadly, including better diversity of modified amino acids and easier use in different cell types. If successful, this approach could reveal meaningful connections between protein chemistry and diseases like autoimmunity and cancer.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If the methods succeed, patients could benefit from accelerated understanding of disease mechanisms and future targeted therapies.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary and related methods have shown promise in enabling site-specific protein modifications in cells, but broad, robust mammalian application remains an area of active development.
Where this research is happening
-
Boston College
Chestnut Hill, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chatterjee, Abhishek — Boston College
- Study coordinator: Chatterjee, Abhishek
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
New boron-nitrogen chemistry to expand medicines and biology
A Boston College team is developing new boron-nitrogen-based chemical space to create innovative molecules and tools for biology and drug discovery.
-
mHealth dashboard to support family mental health in Rwanda and beyond
A smartphone-based dashboard helps deliver a proven family-based mental health program in Rwanda, making it easier to keep families engaged and ensure high-quality care.
-
Digital dashboard to support family mental health in Rwanda
A digital dashboard is being developed and tested to help deliver a proven family-based mental-health program in Rwanda and share lessons that could help families in the US.
-
New ways to build complex molecules using organoboron chemistry
This grant supports developing user-friendly chemical reactions that let researchers make important molecules from readily available starting materials.
-
How war affects children's mental health across generations and how families can help
The team is looking at how parents' experiences of war in Sierra Leone influence their children's emotions and behavior to guide family-focused support.
-
Preventing tuberculosis in rural South Africa using clinic systems improvements
A clinic-based systems approach aims to improve tuberculosis prevention, diagnosis, and treatment for people in rural South Africa, especially household contacts and those living with HIV.
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.