How cells control their internal motors to shape tissues
Official title: MECHANISMS OF CONTRACTILE NETWORK ASSEMBLY
Funded at Loyola University Chicago · NIH-11375963 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This NIH grant funds research to understand how cells tune their internal motors (myosin 2) to generate the right amount of force in the right place, helping tissues develop and stay healthy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Loyola University Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Maywood, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2020 |
| Project end | August 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $437,292 |
| NIH project number | 5R35GM138183-07 |
| Project ID | NIH-11375963 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
No specific patient enrollment is described in this grant as written; the work is basic science in cell biology.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with conditions not linked to cell contractility regulation may not directly benefit from this basic science project.
What this research studies
Researchers will study how myosin 2 motors create and tune contractile forces inside living mammalian cells using molecular, cellular, and imaging approaches. The work aims to reveal how cells regulate these forces during tissue formation and maintenance. By mapping where and when contractility is produced, the project could point to new ideas for preventing or treating diseases related to tissue mechanics.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: A deeper understanding of how cell forces shape tissues may lead to new approaches to treat conditions involving abnormal tissue mechanics.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies in cell mechanics have advanced knowledge of contractility, suggesting that similar approaches can yield meaningful insights in mammalian cells.
Where this research is happening
-
Loyola University Chicago
Maywood, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Beach, Jordan — Loyola University Chicago
- Study coordinator: Beach, Jordan
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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.