High-speed imaging tools to study protein interactions in cancer cells
Official title: High speed, high information content single-molecule techniques for studying protein interactions and organizations in cells
Funded at Clemson University · NIH-11376890 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are developing advanced imaging methods to watch how proteins interact in cancer cells in real time, aiming for ultra-precise detail.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Clemson University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Clemson, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2025 |
| Project end | May 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $351,769 |
| NIH project number | 5R35GM157131-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11376890 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with cancers where EGFR signaling is relevant and where tumor biology could be better understood through high-resolution imaging.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not undergoing cancers where EGFR or related pathways are involved may see limited direct benefit.
What this research studies
This grant funds a lab at Clemson University to create and refine single-molecule imaging tools so scientists can observe how proteins interact inside cells with very high spatial and temporal precision. The project will build a two-color single-particle tracking system and unify data analysis to make complex measurements easier to interpret. By applying these tools to studying EGFR, a key player in cancer growth, the work aims to reveal how proteins come together or dissociate in living cells. The goal is to enable clearer insights into cancer biology and inform future therapies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could benefit from faster translation of precise protein interaction data into targeted cancer treatments.
How similar studies have gone: Similar high-resolution imaging approaches have provided new insights in cellular biology, though integrating two-color real-time tracking is an area with ongoing development.
Where this research is happening
-
Clemson University
Clemson, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Liu, Sheng — Clemson University
- Study coordinator: Liu, Sheng
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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.