How cell membranes move ions and lipids
Advancing mechanistic understanding of membrane ion and lipid transport
This project looks at how membrane proteins move ions and lipids and how that could matter for people with heart disease, stroke, cancer, epilepsy, muscular dystrophy, and some infections.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Duke University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11317210 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you or a loved one has a condition linked to membrane function, here's what the team will do: they focus on a family of membrane proteins called TMEM16 that can act as ion channels and lipid scramblases. They will build new lab methods to watch and control lipid "flip-flop" across cell membranes under near-normal conditions. They will determine how calcium and electrical voltage activate these proteins at molecular and cellular levels using biochemical tools and cell imaging. Finally, they will apply those tools to see how lipid scrambling affects cell–cell fusion, a process relevant to muscle repair and some viral infections.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients with heart disease, stroke, certain cancers, epilepsy, muscular dystrophy, or viral infections (including advanced HIV or COVID-19) would be the populations most relevant to this research and potential future trials or sample donation.
Not a fit: People seeking immediate changes to their medical care or those with conditions unrelated to membrane ion or lipid transport are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this lab-focused grant.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new molecular targets or pathways that lead to future treatments for heart attack, stroke, cancer, muscular diseases, and certain infections.
How similar studies have performed: Prior basic research on TMEM16 family proteins has produced important molecular insights, but translating those findings into clinical treatments remains novel and early-stage.
Where this research is happening
Durham, United States
- Duke University — Durham, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yang, Huanghe — Duke University
- Study coordinator: Yang, Huanghe
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.