Chemical tools to map how glycation and ubiquitination control cell signals in cancer and aging
Official title: Request for Administrative Supplement for Chemical Strategies to Reveal Cellular Glycation and Ubiquitination
Funded at Tufts University Medford · NIH-11421353 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A researcher team is developing new chemical methods to watch how specific protein modifications like glycation and ubiquitination shape cell signaling in living human cells, aiming to uncover targets to prevent or treat cancer and age-related diseases.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Tufts University Medford NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | June 1, 2025 |
| Project end | March 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $165,427 |
| NIH project number | 3R35GM158376-02S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11421353 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals whose conditions involve cancer, aging-related disorders, diabetes, or neurodegenerative diseases where glycation and ubiquitination play a role.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without these conditions or without related signaling abnormalities may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project creates innovative chemical tools to visualize and track glycation and ubiquitination inside living cells, helping us understand how these modifications influence signaling networks. The work focuses on making precise, selective tools that reveal when and where these PTMs occur without disrupting normal cell functions. By studying these processes in cancer and aging-related contexts, the research aims to identify new points to intervene and potentially halt disease progression.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could benefit from new strategies to target disease-driving signaling pathways linked to glycation and ubiquitination.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has shown that chemical tools can reveal PTM dynamics, with the potential for translation to therapies, though this area remains emerging.
Where this research is happening
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Tufts University Medford
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Scheck, Rebecca — Tufts University Medford
- Study coordinator: Scheck, Rebecca
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.