Developing a new method to capture rapid cellular changes using high-pressure freezing.
HPF-X: High-pressure freezing with buffer exchange
This study is working on a new way to take super-fast pictures of how cells change when they get a signal, which could help scientists better understand diseases and how treatments work, ultimately benefiting patients like you.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Harvard University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cambridge, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-10898028 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research focuses on improving the visualization of rapid molecular and ultrastructural changes in cells that occur after stimulation, which are crucial in various biological fields such as neuroscience and immunology. The team aims to create a new high-pressure freezing device that allows for time-resolved buffer exchange before the freezing process, enabling better capture of these fast dynamics. By using this innovative approach, the research seeks to overcome the limitations of current imaging techniques that struggle to visualize these quick cellular processes. Patients may benefit indirectly through advancements in understanding diseases and drug responses at the cellular level.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for benefiting from this research include individuals with conditions related to cellular dysfunction, such as neurological disorders or immune system diseases.
Not a fit: Patients with stable, chronic conditions that do not involve rapid cellular changes may not receive direct benefits from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to significant advancements in our understanding of cellular processes, potentially improving disease diagnosis and treatment.
How similar studies have performed: Other research has shown success with advanced imaging techniques, but this specific approach using high-pressure freezing with buffer exchange is novel.
Where this research is happening
Cambridge, United States
- Harvard University — Cambridge, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Prigozhin, Maxim — Harvard University
- Study coordinator: Prigozhin, Maxim
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 below.