How cells check chromosome separation and what goes wrong in cancer
The systems biology of mitotic checkpoint signaling and its relevance to cancer cell biology
This project looks at how a cell's built-in 'wait' signal during division keeps chromosomes in order and how mistakes in that signal may lead to cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11131080 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will combine laboratory experiments on cells with mathematical computer models to map how the spindle assembly checkpoint (the cell's 'wait-anaphase' signal) operates over time. They will measure how fast a single unattached chromosome can send that inhibitory signal and what factors change that rate during division. The team will compare signaling dynamics in normal and cancerous cells to see how perturbations raise the risk of chromosome missegregation. The work aims to create a dynamic, quantitative picture of checkpoint signaling and its consequences for genome stability in cancer.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with cancer who can donate tumor tissue or blood for laboratory study, or whose tumors are used to create cell lines, would be the most relevant participants for this research.
Not a fit: People without cancer or whose care does not involve tumor sampling are unlikely to see direct benefits from this specific lab-focused project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could explain why some cancers gain or lose whole chromosomes and suggest new ways to prevent or target genome instability in tumors.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies have identified many checkpoint proteins and shown the SAC prevents chromosome missegregation, but measuring the dynamic signaling rates and directly linking them to cancer consequences is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Ann Arbor, United States
- University of Michigan at Ann Arbor — Ann Arbor, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Joglekar, Ajit — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Joglekar, Ajit
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.