NIH-funded research NIH-funded research

Controlling cell behavior by adjusting pH levels in their environment

Official title: Cell Control via Spatiotemporal Microenvironmental pH Modulation

Funded at University of Massachusetts Amherst · NIH-10931415 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study is exploring how to carefully adjust the acidity around cells to help them work better, which could lead to new ways to improve treatments in areas like healing tissues and delivering medications.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Massachusetts Amherst
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Hadley, United States)
Project startSeptember 20, 2023
Project endAugust 31, 2028
Funding year2024
Award (this year)$379,990
NIH project number5R35GM151128-02
Project IDNIH-10931415 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with conditions that could benefit from advanced cell therapies, such as cancer or cardiovascular diseases.

Less likely to help

Patients with stable conditions that do not require innovative cell-based treatments may not benefit from this research.

What this research studies

This research focuses on how the pH levels in the microenvironment of cells can be precisely controlled to influence their behavior and function. By developing new methods to modulate pH in real-time and with high spatial resolution, the project aims to improve applications in cell biology, tissue engineering, and regenerative medicine. The approach utilizes advanced nanoelectrochemical techniques with graphene-based microelectrodes to achieve this control, which could lead to significant advancements in drug delivery and treatment strategies.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective therapies for various diseases by enabling precise control over cell behavior.

How similar studies have gone: While the approach of using pH modulation for cell control is innovative, similar techniques in cell manipulation have shown promise in preliminary studies.

Where this research is happening

  • University of Massachusetts Amherst
    Hadley, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Ping, Jinglei — University of Massachusetts Amherst
  • Study coordinator: Ping, Jinglei

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.