Cytoskeletal connectors: uncovering how cell skeletons move and communicate in disease
Official title: Cytoskeletal connectors: Deciphering the fundamental mechanisms of cytoskeletal dynamics and transport
Funded at Salk Institute for Biological Studies · NIH-11428743 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A research project at a leading biology institute studies how the cell’s skeleton proteins work together to move cargo and control cell behavior, with a focus on cancers and related diseases.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Salk Institute for Biological Studies NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | June 12, 2026 |
| Project end | March 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $515,625 |
| NIH project number | 1R35GM165848-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11428743 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This research is basic science; patients with cancer or neurodevelopmental/neurodegenerative diseases could benefit from future therapies informed by these mechanisms.
✕Less likely to help
Direct benefits to patients are not guaranteed during basic discovery, and results may take time to translate.
What this research studies
This project will look at how actin and microtubule networks are connected by spectraplakin proteins and how their ATPase domains may actively drive movement and signaling. Researchers will use structural biology, biochemistry, and cell biology to understand how these connectors influence neuron development, cancer progression, and cell division. The work could reveal new targets to interfere with abnormal cell movement and growth in cancer. It aims to move beyond viewing connectors as passive linkers to uncover their active roles.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could lead to new approaches for treating cancers by targeting cytoskeletal connectors.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has hinted that cytoskeletal connectors have active roles, but this program aims to deepen understanding and translate it toward therapies.
Where this research is happening
-
Salk Institute for Biological Studies
La Jolla, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kendrick, Agnieszka Anastazja — Salk Institute for Biological Studies
- Study coordinator: Kendrick, Agnieszka Anastazja
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.