How cells control which proteins they make when under stress
Official title: Regulation of protein synthesis during cellular stress
Funded at Henry M. Jackson Fdn for the Adv Mil/med · NIH-11322524 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers will learn how stressed cells pick which proteins to make to help understand and eventually improve treatments for cancers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Henry M. Jackson Fdn for the Adv Mil/med NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Bethesda, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2025 |
| Project end | April 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $372,880 |
| NIH project number | 5R35GM157233-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11322524 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This work is most relevant to people with cancer or those interested in how tumor cells respond to stress at a molecular level.
✕Less likely to help
Patients looking for immediate treatment options or clinical trials are unlikely to benefit directly because this is laboratory-based basic research.
What this research studies
This project studies the molecular machine eIF2 that helps start protein production and how it changes during cellular stress. Scientists will use laboratory cell models and biochemical experiments to track how eIF2 activity and small regulatory sequences in messenger RNA (uORFs) change which proteins are made. They will also study how eIF2 itself is assembled so cells can recover after stress. Findings are aimed at revealing mechanisms inside cancer cells that let them survive under stress.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could point to new molecular targets for therapies that stop cancer cells from surviving stress.
How similar studies have gone: Previous laboratory studies have established the integrated stress response and eIF2's role, but questions about eIF2 biogenesis and how many mRNAs are selectively translated remain open.
Where this research is happening
-
Henry M. Jackson Fdn for the Adv Mil/med
Bethesda, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Young-Baird, Sara Kathryn — Henry M. Jackson Fdn for the Adv Mil/med
- Study coordinator: Young-Baird, Sara Kathryn
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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.