How cells control their size and Wnt signaling
The dynamics and underlying mechanisms controlling cell size and canonical Wnt signaling
This project studies how cells manage their size and the Wnt signaling system, which is important for people with cancers linked to Wnt activity.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Harvard Medical School NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11172605 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Scientists will watch individual Wnt pathway proteins inside cells by tagging them with fluorescent markers placed at their natural gene locations so protein levels stay normal. They will also rebuild parts of the Wnt pathway outside cells using purified proteins to measure how the pathway reacts over time. The team plans to isolate complexes to check chemical modifications, capture key structures with cryo-electron microscopy, and combine experiments with computer models to explain the timing and control of growth signals. Together these approaches aim to show how cell size and Wnt signaling interact at a molecular level.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients with cancers known to involve abnormal Wnt signaling, such as some colorectal cancers, would be most likely to benefit or to be future candidates for related therapies.
Not a fit: People whose diseases are unrelated to Wnt signaling or non-cancer conditions are unlikely to see direct benefit from this basic laboratory research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal how Wnt-driven cancers grow and point to new targets for treatments or diagnostics.
How similar studies have performed: The Wnt pathway has been extensively studied, but combining single-molecule imaging, in vitro reconstitution, and cryo-EM is an advanced and still exploratory approach with promising potential.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Harvard Medical School — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kirschner, Marc Wallace — Harvard Medical School
- Study coordinator: Kirschner, Marc Wallace
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.