How cells choose their EV neighbors and how to map it
Official title: Mechanisms of Cell Type-Specific EV Transfer
Funded at University of New Mexico Health Scis Ctr · NIH-11502652 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are testing a new method to understand how tiny particles called extracellular vesicles talk to specific cell types, which could reveal why some signals reach certain brain cells.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of New Mexico Health Scis Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Albuquerque, United States) |
| Project start | September 10, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $409,925 |
| NIH project number | 1R21NS153244-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11502652 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not applicable for this grant as described; the study is basic science using human stem cells and cell models rather than enrolling patients.
✕Less likely to help
This project does not involve patient participation or testing in people.
What this research studies
This project uses a novel “EV-Trap” system to capture the fleeting interactions between extracellular vesicles and the surfaces of recipient cells. It combines directed differentiation of human stem cells, controlled EV uptake experiments, and proximity-based labeling to identify which proteins help EVs recognize and engage specific cell types. The team will then use bioinformatics and gene editing to confirm which ligands and receptors are critical for cell-type specific transfer. The work focuses on brain-related cell types to uncover fundamental biology that may inform future therapies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide a map of which proteins control EV targeting, potentially guiding safer and more precise future treatments that use EVs to deliver therapies to specific brain cells.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work suggests that EV-cell communication is nuanced, with some evidence for specific targeting, but the exact molecular players remain to be defined.
Where this research is happening
-
University of New Mexico Health Scis Ctr
Albuquerque, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Weick, Jason P — University of New Mexico Health Scis Ctr
- Study coordinator: Weick, Jason P
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.