Chemical membrane labeling and fluorescence-guided sequencing to decode how cells communicate via microvesicles
Official title: Chemical membrane labeling and fluorescence-guided sequencing to decode microvesicle-mediated cell-cell communication
Funded at University of Illinois at Chicago · NIH-11429119 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new technique will label donor cells and read how microvesicles transfer messages between cancer cells and their surroundings, helping us understand how tumors grow and resist treatment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Illinois at Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | August 1, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $224,863 |
| NIH project number | 1R61CA315147-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11429119 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults with cancers where microvesicle signaling plays a role, or patient-derived cancer samples used in collaborative validation studies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with cancers not driven by microvesicle signaling or those unable to participate in lab-based sample analysis may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project aims to develop faster, more sensitive ways to label cell membranes and sequence the RNA messages in recipient cells after microvesicle transfer, both in the lab and in living systems. By using a dye-based membrane barcode and fluorescence-guided sequencing, researchers hope to map who is sending and receiving signals in cancer networks. The work will test these methods in cancer models to reveal how microvesicles contribute to progression, immune evasion, and therapy resistance. The approach could eventually enable more precise diagnostics and targeting of cell-to-cell communication in tumors.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the methods could improve understanding of cancer communication networks and lead to better diagnostics and targeted therapies.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies show microvesicle signaling is important in cancer, but this project introduces a novel labeling and sequencing approach that is not yet proven.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Illinois at Chicago
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hu, Ying Samuel — University of Illinois at Chicago
- Study coordinator: Hu, Ying Samuel
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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.