AI mapping of protein interactions in human cell communication
Machine learning of biomolecular interactions and the human signaling networks they comprise
This project uses artificial intelligence to predict how proteins and chemically modified molecules interact in human cells to help people with diseases caused by faulty cell signaling.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Columbia University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11176109 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will train advanced AI models on protein sequence and structure data, including post-translationally modified molecules, to predict how proteins bind and communicate. They will build on recent protein-structure and protein-language modeling advances to generate more accurate predictions and to model alternate protein shapes that affect binding. The team will apply these models across the human proteome to map signaling networks that control cell behavior. This work is primarily computational, using public and lab-generated molecular data rather than testing treatments in patients.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with conditions linked to disrupted cell signaling—such as many cancers, certain autoimmune, metabolic, or neurodegenerative disorders—or patients willing to contribute tissue or genetic data for molecular studies may be most relevant.
Not a fit: Patients looking for an immediate treatment or clinical trial enrollment are unlikely to benefit directly because this is a computational discovery project rather than a therapy trial.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new drug targets and biomarkers and speed development of therapies for diseases driven by abnormal cell signaling.
How similar studies have performed: Related AI methods like AlphaFold and protein language models have rapidly improved structure prediction, but applying them to modified ligands and proteome-scale signaling maps remains relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Columbia University Health Sciences — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Alquraishi, Mohammed Nazar — Columbia University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Alquraishi, Mohammed Nazar
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 below.