Developing new drugs using evolved proteins in mammalian cells
Official title: DRUG DISCOVERY BY DIRECTED EVOLUTION IN MAMMALIAN CELLS
Funded at Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · NIH-10909940 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is exploring a new way to find better medicines by using a lab technique that mimics how nature evolves, aiming to create special tools that can work with tricky mammal cells to develop new treatments for conditions related to the serotonin receptor, which is important for many health issues.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $98,161 |
| NIH project number | 5K99GM149931-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10909940 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with conditions that involve the 5-HT2A serotonin receptor, such as certain mood disorders or neurological conditions.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have conditions related to the 5-HT2A serotonin receptor may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on improving drug discovery by using a method called directed evolution, which mimics natural evolution in the lab. The goal is to create a new system that allows for the manipulation of mammalian cells, which are often challenging to work with. By studying viral diversity, the researchers aim to develop nanobodies that can target the 5-HT2A serotonin receptor, a key player in various medical conditions. This approach could lead to the discovery of new drugs that effectively interact with this receptor and improve treatment options.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to the development of new and more effective drugs for conditions related to the 5-HT2A serotonin receptor.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research using directed evolution in other systems has shown significant success, suggesting that this approach could also be effective in mammalian cells.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kocak, Daniel Dewran — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Kocak, Daniel Dewran
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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.