How cells control their size and shape
Mechanisms controlling cell size and shape
Researchers are exploring how cells set their size and shape to help people with diseases like cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Dartmouth College NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Hanover, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11177648 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
The lab uses fission yeast (a simple single-celled organism) to learn how molecules and protein complexes set cell size and shape. They combine genetics, live-cell microscopy, phosphoproteomics, and biochemical reconstitution to map signaling networks and protein clusters called nodes that help time cell division. The work focuses on conserved cell-cycle regulators such as Cdk1, Cdr2, Cdr1, and Wee1 to understand how growth and division are coordinated. Results aim to convert basic findings into clues for future therapies that target abnormal cell growth.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with cancers driven by abnormal cell growth or cell-cycle control, or patients interested in contributing samples to related research, would be most relevant.
Not a fit: Patients with conditions unrelated to cell-cycle regulation or those seeking immediate treatment effects are unlikely to benefit directly from this basic lab research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: This work could reveal molecular targets that eventually lead to new treatments to stop cancer cells from dividing abnormally.
How similar studies have performed: Similar yeast-based and cell-cycle studies have successfully identified key regulators and informed later drug discovery, but direct patient therapies from this line remain early and exploratory.
Where this research is happening
Hanover, United States
- Dartmouth College — Hanover, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Moseley, James B — Dartmouth College
- Study coordinator: Moseley, James B
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.