How cell membranes move and respond to blood flow
Official title: Full Sail Ahead: How Membranes Move and Respond to Flow
Funded at Lehigh University · NIH-11321681 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are measuring how the outer layer of blood-vessel cells shifts and carries proteins when blood flows to learn how that affects artery health.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Lehigh University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Bethlehem, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2022 |
| Project end | April 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $294,613 |
| NIH project number | 5R01GM143320-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11321681 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This laboratory-focused project does not directly enroll patients, but its findings would be most relevant to people with or at high risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
✕Less likely to help
People seeking immediate treatment changes or those without vascular disease are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this basic lab research.
What this research studies
This project looks at how the thin outer membrane of endothelial cells moves when blood flows and whether that movement changes signals inside the cell that can contribute to artery plaque. Scientists will track how lipids and membrane proteins slide and form concentration differences under different flow conditions using lab-grown cells and high-resolution physical measurements. They will test whether flow-driven movement of particular membrane proteins turns on signaling pathways in endothelial cells. Results aim to explain why low-flow regions of arteries are prone to atherosclerosis and point to new biological targets.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could reveal new mechanisms behind plaque formation and point to targets for preventing or slowing atherosclerotic disease.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies show blood flow affects endothelial signaling, but directly linking membrane protein transport to signaling is a newer and less-tested approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Lehigh University
Bethlehem, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Honerkamp-Smith, Aurelia R — Lehigh University
- Study coordinator: Honerkamp-Smith, Aurelia R
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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.