How a cell’s identity controls when it divides
Lineage-Specific Mechanisms of Cell Cycle Timing Control
Researchers are looking at whether a cell’s identity determines how long it takes to divide, with relevance for people with cancers or conditions needing tissue repair.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Los Angeles NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11176370 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
They study tiny roundworms (Caenorhabditis elegans) because each worm’s cell lineage is well mapped and easy to image. Using high-resolution 3D time-lapse microscopy and automated lineage tracing, they follow individual cells as they divide. The team introduces genetic changes and applies spatial transcriptomics to link gene activity, cell fate, and the timing of cell cycles. The goal is to learn how changes in division timing and cell identity interact in ways that could relate to cancer or regeneration.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This project is laboratory research using nematode models and does not enroll patients, so there is no opportunity for patient participation.
Not a fit: Patients looking for immediate treatment options are unlikely to receive direct benefit in the short term because this is basic research in worms.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal ways to control cell growth timing that might eventually lead to improved cancer therapies or better tissue-regeneration approaches.
How similar studies have performed: Using C. elegans and lineage-tracing is an established approach in developmental biology, but coupling automated 3D timelapse lineage reconstruction with spatial transcriptomics to link fate and cycle timing is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
Los Angeles, United States
- University of California Los Angeles — Los Angeles, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Shah, Pavak Kirit — University of California Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Shah, Pavak Kirit
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 below.