A platform to reveal how cells boost hormone secretory efficiency
Official title: A generalizable platform to identify cellular mechanisms that enhance secretory efficiency
Funded at Allen Institute · NIH-11326321 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A research team at the Allen Institute is building a general method to uncover cellular processes that make hormone secretion more efficient, with potential relevance to bipolar disorder and diabetes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Allen Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2024 |
| Project end | April 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $361,548 |
| NIH project number | 5R35GM154893-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11326321 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with bipolar disorder or related metabolic/endocrine conditions could indirectly benefit from future therapies arising from this research, including targeted drugs or biomarkers.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without bipolar or metabolic disorders may not directly benefit from this specific basic research.
What this research studies
This project aims to map how secretory granules in nerve and hormone-producing cells mature and release their contents more effectively. Researchers will study subpopulations of dense core secretory granules and the signals that control their packaging and release. By identifying drug targets that improve secretion, this work could lead to new ways to help people who have mood disorders or metabolic diseases. The study uses human-relevant cellular models to understand the biology behind secretion with potential implications for therapies. The overarching goal is to connect basic cell biology to conditions like bipolar disorder and diabetes in a translational way.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could point to new therapeutic targets that improve hormonal signaling, potentially benefiting people with bipolar disorder and related metabolic issues.
How similar studies have gone: Prior research has shown that secretory granule maturation influences hormone release, with some strategies moving toward targeted modulation of secretion.
Where this research is happening
-
Allen Institute
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: White, Kate L. — Allen Institute
- Study coordinator: White, Kate L.
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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.