Cellular morphogenesis in yeast and links to neurodegenerative diseases
Official title: Examination of Elm1, polarity, and endocytosis for regulation of cellular morphogenesis in budding yeast
Funded at Western Kentucky University · NIH-11384659 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study in yeast explores how cells shape themselves and coordinate growth, with implications for understanding diseases that affect the brain and aging.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Western Kentucky University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Bowling Green, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2025 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $177,195 |
| NIH project number | 5R16GM159605-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11384659 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not applicable to patient recruitment in this project; findings may inform human disease research in the long term.
✕Less likely to help
No direct patient benefit in this basic science grant.
What this research studies
This project uses the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae to study how cell shape and division are controlled by networks that regulate polarization, the cytoskeleton, and membrane trafficking. By focusing on Elm1, polarity, and endocytosis, researchers aim to uncover how disruptions in these processes could relate to diseases like Alzheimer’s. The work integrates cell biology techniques to observe protein interactions and cell cycle links, hoping to translate basic findings to higher organisms. Although carried out in yeast, the pathways studied are conserved and may illuminate mechanisms relevant to neurodegenerative conditions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Understanding fundamental cell-shaping processes may reveal new angles for addressing neurodegenerative diseases in humans.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work in model organisms has shown that cell morphology and trafficking influence disease-related pathways; the approach builds on established yeast models.
Where this research is happening
-
Western Kentucky University
Bowling Green, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Marquardt, Joseph Ronald — Western Kentucky University
- Study coordinator: Marquardt, Joseph Ronald
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.