How brain cells control glutamate movement and ion flow
Ion coupling, permeation, and regulation in glutamate transporters
It looks at how the proteins that move glutamate and ions in brain cells work to help people with memory problems, pain, and other brain disorders.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R37 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11250058 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will use advanced lab methods to watch how glutamate transporter proteins change shape and move ions. They will combine genetic comparisons, cryo-electron microscopy, single-molecule fluorescence, and biochemical tests to find the key parts and states of these proteins. The team aims to explain how normal ion coupling and abnormal ion leakage happen and how that can lead to neuron damage. This is lab-based work using proteins and cells at Weill Cornell rather than testing treatments in people.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This project is laboratory-based and does not enroll patient participants.
Not a fit: People looking for immediate new treatments or clinical trials are unlikely to benefit directly from this basic lab research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could point to new drug targets or strategies to prevent glutamate toxicity and protect brain cells in conditions like stroke, epilepsy, ALS, and other neurodegenerative disorders.
How similar studies have performed: Prior structural and biochemical studies have mapped transporter shapes and some ion interactions, but this combined single-molecule and cryo-EM approach seeks to reveal dynamic mechanisms that are not yet fully understood.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Boudker, Olga — Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ
- Study coordinator: Boudker, Olga
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.