Finding ways for small proteins to enter cells and target diseases
Official title: Identifying the determinants of cell-penetrant miniproteins
Funded at Northwestern University at Chicago · NIH-10912503 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is exploring tiny proteins that can sneak into cells to tackle harmful proteins, and it's designed to help researchers find the best ones to use for treating tough diseases that current medications struggle with.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Fellowship grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northwestern University at Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $44,187 |
| NIH project number | 5F31GM151811-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10912503 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with diseases caused by intracellular protein interactions that are currently considered 'undruggable'.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with conditions that do not involve intracellular protein interactions or those who are already effectively treated with existing therapies may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing small proteins, known as miniproteins, that can penetrate cell membranes to target disease-causing proteins inside cells. The team will create a new method to test multiple miniproteins simultaneously, which will help identify which ones can effectively enter cells and disrupt harmful protein interactions. By understanding how these miniproteins can be designed for better delivery, the research aims to overcome current limitations in treating diseases that are difficult to target with existing drugs.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatments for diseases that currently have limited therapeutic options.
How similar studies have gone: While the approach of using miniproteins is promising, the specific high-throughput method for testing their delivery is novel and has not been extensively tested in previous research.
Where this research is happening
-
Northwestern University at Chicago
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Phoumyvong, Claire M — Northwestern University at Chicago
- Study coordinator: Phoumyvong, Claire M
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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.