Dynamic nanoscale cellular imaging with time-resolved vitrification
Official title: Dynamic nanoscale cellular imaging via time-resolved cryo-vitrification
Funded at Harvard University · NIH-11413464 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new tool called VERITAS will let scientists stimulate cells and then rapidly freeze them to see how tiny parts of the cell respond in real time.
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 start | September 25, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $349,625 |
| NIH project number | 5R01GM154030-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11413464 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not a patient-facing trial; primarily a technology development project. Applicable to human cells and clinical samples in future studies.
✕Less likely to help
No direct patient participation in this grant.
What this research studies
This grant aims to create a biophysical method that couples rapid chemical or biological stimulation of cells with millisecond-scale cryo-vitrification, enabling high-resolution study of dynamic cellular events. The approach links time-resolved freezing with advanced imaging to reveal membrane movements, protein interactions, and rapid biochemical changes. By providing a clearer picture of nanoscale processes as they unfold, the method could help researchers understand how cells respond to signals at the smallest scales. The project builds on prior technology and includes validation to ensure the technique produces reliable, interpretable data for broad use in cell biology.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could benefit indirectly through faster discoveries about cellular mechanisms that underlie health and disease, potentially accelerating new therapies.
How similar studies have gone: Previous methods provide static snapshots; this project advances time-resolved imaging at the nanoscale, which is a novel capability with promising early signals.
Where this research is happening
-
Harvard University
Cambridge, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Prigozhin, Maxim — Harvard University
- Study coordinator: Prigozhin, Maxim
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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.