How cells build and use tiny muscle-like machines
The assembly and function of cellular contractile systems
Researchers are looking at how microscopic motor proteins inside cells are made and work, with relevance for people affected by cancer or heart disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Vanderbilt University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Nashville, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11260212 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient perspective, scientists are studying tiny motor proteins called myosins that let cells squeeze, move, and divide. They focus on how different myosin types join into mixed filaments and how those assemblies produce force in cells and muscle. The team uses cell experiments, heart muscle cells and animal models, advanced imaging, and biophysical measurements to see how these parts are regulated and cooperate. Understanding these basic mechanisms may point to new ways to limit harmful cell movement in cancer or improve heart muscle function.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with cancers or cardiovascular disease who are willing to donate tissue or biological samples or take part in future translational studies would be most relevant.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate changes in clinical care or enrollment in a therapeutic trial are unlikely to see direct benefit from this basic laboratory research right now.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify new molecular targets that lead to therapies to control harmful cell forces in cancer or improve heart muscle performance.
How similar studies have performed: Prior laboratory studies have begun to show important roles for mixed myosin filaments, but turning those discoveries into treatments remains new and largely untested.
Where this research is happening
Nashville, UNITED STATES
- Vanderbilt University — Nashville, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Burnette, Dylan Tyler — Vanderbilt University
- Study coordinator: Burnette, Dylan Tyler
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.