How cell membranes change to control cell behavior
Functional Roles of the Membrane Phase Transition in Cellular Physiology
This project looks at how tiny changes in cell membranes help cells sense signals and influence conditions like cancer, immune problems, and brain disorders.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11247930 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will combine physics-based models with advanced single-molecule and super-resolution fluorescence imaging to watch how lipids and proteins reorganize in cell membranes. They will link those membrane changes to signaling outcomes in systems important for immune recognition and for inhibitory receptors in the brain. Experiments will use cellular models and detailed functional assays to connect membrane phase behavior to biological responses. The goal is to explain how membrane physical states can drive or modify processes that go wrong in cancer, immunodeficiency, and neurodegeneration.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with cancers, immune system disorders, or neurodegenerative conditions would be the most relevant candidates if the research moves toward patient-based studies or sample donation.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate changes in clinical care or those with conditions unrelated to membrane signaling are unlikely to get direct benefit from this basic laboratory-focused work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new biological mechanisms that point to targets for future therapies across cancer, immune disorders, and neurological diseases.
How similar studies have performed: Prior biophysics work including the PI's lab has shown membrane phase behavior in cells, but applying these findings to immune signaling and inhibitory synapses is a relatively new direction.
Where this research is happening
Ann Arbor, United States
- University of Michigan at Ann Arbor — Ann Arbor, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Veatch, Sarah L — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Veatch, Sarah L
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.