Fast lab methods to map how proteins fold and move inside cells

High-throughput disulfide and FRET scanning to reveal protein conformational ensembles in vitro and in vivo.

NIH-funded research State University New York Stony Brook · NIH-11320719

This project builds fast laboratory techniques to map protein shapes and movements inside cells, which could help with infections and diseases caused by misfolded proteins.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionState University New York Stony Brook NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Stony Brook, United States)
Project IDNIH-11320719 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

Researchers will develop two complementary laboratory techniques: high-throughput disulfide scanning and single-molecule FRET scanning, to measure protein conformations both in test tubes and inside living cells. The team will apply these tools to learn how chaperone proteins work, how bacterial transpeptidases affect antibiotic susceptibility, and how non-native or trapped protein shapes influence cell behavior. The project aims to generate large-scale maps of how proteins change shape across time and many residue pairs. Results will link specific genetic changes to structural and functional outcomes that matter for disease and drug response.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: People affected by antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections and patients with diseases involving protein misfolding (for example some neurodegenerative disorders) would be most directly relevant to this work.

Not a fit: Patients with conditions unrelated to infections or protein-folding problems are unlikely to see direct benefits from this project.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, these tools could reveal new drug targets and help improve antibiotics and treatments for diseases tied to protein misfolding.

How similar studies have performed: Related techniques like single-molecule FRET and disulfide mapping have been used before, but this high-throughput, in-cell combination is novel and less tested.

Where this research is happening

Stony Brook, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-09 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.