How cell size affects how bowel lining cells fit together and stay healthy
Official title: Differential Cell Size in Epithelial Packing, Homeostasis, and Disease
Funded at University of Nebraska Medical Center · NIH-11411459 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A project to understand how differences in cell size in the gut lining influence tissue structure and disease, using mouse intestine as a model.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Nebraska Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Omaha, United States) |
| Project start | March 16, 2018 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $257,327 |
| NIH project number | 5P20GM121316-09 |
| Project ID | NIH-11411459 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates include individuals with bowel cancer or related gut conditions where epithelial packing is relevant, and healthy volunteers for comparative analyses.
✕Less likely to help
People without gut conditions related to epithelial packing may not benefit directly.
What this research studies
This grant studies how cells of different sizes pack together in the intestinal lining and how these packing patterns impact tissue health and disease. Researchers will examine the roles of cell size and mechanical properties in maintaining organized tissue in the gut. Using mouse models, they will explore why cells of various sizes may contribute to bowel cancer and other conditions. The work may reveal new ideas about why abnormal cell sizes appear in disease and how to restore healthy tissue architecture.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, it could lead to new ways to prevent or treat bowel diseases by targeting how cells of different sizes organize themselves in the gut.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work in epithelial tissue suggests cell size and packing influence health; this study extends those ideas to disease contexts with more detailed models.
Where this research is happening
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University of Nebraska Medical Center
Omaha, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ramanathan, Subramanian Perinkulam — University of Nebraska Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Ramanathan, Subramanian Perinkulam
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.