How cells build direction and shape
The Cytoskeletal Drivers of Cell Polarity
This work looks at how a cell's internal skeleton and signaling help it form and keep a front and back, which matters for conditions like cancer spread and some brain disorders.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | State University of New York at Buffalo NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Amherst, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11248038 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Cells need a clear front and back to divide, move, and form tissues, and when that polarity fails it can contribute to cancer metastasis and neurological problems. The team studies the cell cortex of epithelial cells, focusing on three actin-based structures near cell junctions and the Rho-family and kinase signals that regulate them. They use lab-grown cells, molecular manipulation, and high-resolution imaging to watch how filaments, motors, and signals are coordinated in space and time. The goal is to map the detailed mechanisms that let cells assemble and maintain polarized shapes.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Although not a clinical trial, the results would be most relevant to people with metastatic cancers or neurological conditions linked to cell-polarity defects.
Not a fit: People seeking immediate medical treatments or those with conditions unrelated to cell polarity are unlikely to get direct benefit from this laboratory-focused research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could point to new targets for stopping cancer spread or treating disorders caused by faulty cell polarity.
How similar studies have performed: Previous laboratory work has identified many proteins and pathways involved in polarity, but integrating them into a detailed, coordinated mechanism remains largely unproven and is the novel aim here.
Where this research is happening
Amherst, United States
- State University of New York at Buffalo — Amherst, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lombardo, Andrew Thomas — State University of New York at Buffalo
- Study coordinator: Lombardo, Andrew Thomas
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.