How a key cell protein helps organize the cell's outer surface
Dissecting the Diverse Roles of Importin α at the Plasma Membrane
This project looks at whether a protein called importin α controls where and when molecules gather at the cell surface in ways that matter for diseases like Alzheimer's and some cancers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | State University New York Stony Brook NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stony Brook, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11135522 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will work in the lab to recreate tiny pieces of a cell using microfluidics and control protein activity with light-based tools (optogenetics) so they can watch how importin α helps tether other molecules to the cell membrane. They will vary membrane composition, cell-cycle state, and protein content to see how location and timing of molecular complexes change. The team aims to link those subcellular changes to processes like cell division and nerve signaling that are relevant to Alzheimer’s and other diseases. This is preclinical laboratory research done at Stony Brook University rather than a clinical trial.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This project does not enroll patients now, but people with Alzheimer's disease or related neuropathies could be future candidates for follow-up studies based on these findings.
Not a fit: Because this is laboratory-focused basic research, patients looking for immediate treatments or direct clinical benefit should not expect to benefit from this grant's work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could point to new proteins at the cell surface to target for future diagnostics or treatments for Alzheimer’s and related conditions.
How similar studies have performed: Microfluidics and optogenetics are established lab techniques, but using them to probe importin α's specific roles at the plasma membrane is a novel application without direct clinical precedent.
Where this research is happening
Stony Brook, United States
- State University New York Stony Brook — Stony Brook, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Brownlee, Christopher William — State University New York Stony Brook
- Study coordinator: Brownlee, Christopher William
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.