Choline transporters and cellular nutrition in health and disease
Official title: The physiological and molecular function of choline transport in health and metabolic disease
Funded at Rockefeller University · NIH-11372266 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant investigates a high-affinity choline transporter in human cells to understand how choline gets into cells and how this affects health and metabolic diseases.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rockefeller University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $729,124 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK140337-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11372266 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with health conditions linked to choline metabolism or amino-alcohol transport who may participate in future translational studies or biomarker development.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without conditions tied to choline metabolism or transporter function may see no direct benefit.
What this research studies
Choline is essential for cell membranes, metabolism, signaling, and nerve function, but we don’t fully know how cells take it up. This project uses human data and lab studies to identify and characterize the high-affinity transporter that imports choline across membranes. It combines genomic analyses with experimental approaches to link transporter activity to metabolic health and disease. The goal is to reveal new biology that could inform treatments for metabolic and health conditions related to choline transport.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Understanding choline transport could lead to new strategies for managing metabolic health and related diseases by targeting the transporter mechanism.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have linked transporter genetics to metabolite levels, with emerging evidence that membrane transporters influence nutrition-related health.
Where this research is happening
-
Rockefeller University
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Birsoy, Kivanc — Rockefeller University
- Study coordinator: Birsoy, Kivanc
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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.