Activating PTP1B and Other Phosphatases with Small Molecules
Official title: Development of Small Molecules that Activate PTP1B and OtherPhosphatases
Funded at State University of New York at Albany · NIH-11442911 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A safety-focused, patient-friendly look at a project that aims to turn on natural enzymes in our cells to help correct harmful signals in diseases.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | State University of New York at Albany NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Albany, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $430,375 |
| NIH project number | 1R21TR006405-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11442911 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are patients whose diseases involve dysregulated cell signaling and redox balance where PTP activation could be beneficial.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose diseases do not involve PTP-related signaling or redox imbalances may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project explores small molecules that can turn on protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) inside cells, potentially restoring healthy cell signaling in disease. Researchers will study how redox changes and reactive cysteines affect PTP activity and test two new strategies to activate these enzymes in living systems. The work builds on prior findings about how oxidants alter PTP function and aims to develop approaches that selectively boost PTP activity in patients. If successful, this could lead to therapies that re-balance signaling pathways disrupted in disease.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new therapies that restore proper cell signaling in diseases where PTPs are inappropriately inhibited.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown that manipulating redox regulation of PTPs can influence signaling; this project extends these concepts with new activation strategies.
Where this research is happening
-
State University of New York at Albany
Albany, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Boivin, Benoit — State University of New York at Albany
- Study coordinator: Boivin, Benoit
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Cross-disease small molecule therapy for CAG expansion spinocerebellar ataxias
A new NIH grant is exploring whether existing and natural small molecules can lower harmful CAG RNA and proteins across several spinocerebellar ataxias to help people with these conditions.
-
New small molecule therapeutics to help myotonic dystrophy
A new NIH-funded project tests specially designed small molecules to lower harmful RNA activity in myotonic dystrophy and related diseases, aiming to reduce disease-driving RNA effects.
-
Biofilm structure and its role in the start of gum disease
A researchers team will study how tiny communities of bacteria at the gumline interact with the mouth’s tissues to spark inflammation that leads from healthy gums to periodontal disease.
-
Understanding how unusual RNA translation happens in neurological diseases
Researchers are studying how RNAs can start making proteins in unexpected ways in neurodegenerative diseases, which could reveal new targets for therapy.
-
Early-life neighborhood redlining and lifetime mortality in a historical cohort
This project looks at whether growing up in areas graded or disinvested by HOLC in the 1930s affects mortality later in life for people born in 1930–1940.
-
Count-aware modeling for counting-based spectral unmixing in tissue imaging
A small NIH grant aims to improve how we separate multiple molecular signals in tissue images by using models that respect the way photons are counted, helping researchers get clearer results from fluorescent images.
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.