Creating specialized nanobodies to study protein signaling in cells
Official title: Development of pan- and phospho-specific nanobodies for investigating MAPK and PP2A signaling
Funded at Vanderbilt University · NIH-11102295 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is all about creating special tiny proteins that can help scientists see how certain proteins in our cells change when they get a chemical tag called phosphorylation, which is really important for how our cells work, and it could help us learn more about diseases.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Vanderbilt University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Nashville, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | June 1, 2025 |
| Project end | March 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $452,192 |
| NIH project number | 1R01GM158745-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11102295 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research would be individuals with conditions related to abnormal protein signaling, such as certain types of cancer.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with conditions unrelated to protein phosphorylation or those not involved in cellular signaling processes may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing unique nanobodies that can specifically bind to phosphorylated proteins, which play crucial roles in cellular signaling. By utilizing these nanobodies, researchers aim to better understand how proteins are modified by phosphorylation, a process that is vital for maintaining cellular functions. The study will involve creating and testing these nanobodies to ensure they can accurately detect and quantify phosphorylation events in living cells, which is currently a significant challenge in the field. This innovative approach could provide new insights into cellular processes and disease mechanisms.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved methods for studying protein signaling, which may enhance our understanding of various diseases, including cancers.
How similar studies have gone: While the use of nanobodies in research is promising, this specific approach to studying phosphorylated proteins is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested in prior studies.
Where this research is happening
-
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wadzinski, Brian E — Vanderbilt University
- Study coordinator: Wadzinski, Brian E
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.