How cells move and build their protective layers
Official title: In vivo regulation of cell trafficking and the extracellular matrix
Funded at University of Wyoming · NIH-11096443 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project explores how cells manage their internal transport and outer layers, using tiny worms to understand processes that are similar in humans and linked to diseases like cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Wyoming NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Laramie, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2020 |
| Project end | June 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $570,775 |
| NIH project number | 2R35GM136236-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-11096443 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This foundational research does not involve direct patient participation but aims to advance scientific knowledge that may eventually benefit patients with conditions like cancer.
✕Less likely to help
Patients seeking immediate new treatments or direct clinical interventions would not find direct benefit from this basic science project.
What this research studies
Our bodies are made of cells, and each cell has a complex system for moving materials around inside and building its protective outer layer, called the extracellular matrix. This project uses a small worm, C. elegans, to uncover the basic rules of these cell activities, because many of these rules are the same in humans. Researchers are focusing on two specific cellular pathways that help cells transport materials and maintain their outer structure. Understanding these fundamental processes could shed light on how they go wrong in human diseases, including various cancers.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this foundational work could lead to a deeper understanding of cell function, potentially revealing new targets for treatments for diseases where cell trafficking and the extracellular matrix are disrupted, such as cancers.
How similar studies have gone: This project focuses on "conserved pathways" that have been "largely overlooked," suggesting some prior knowledge of their existence but a novel approach to understanding their detailed mechanisms.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Wyoming
Laramie, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fay, David S — University of Wyoming
- Study coordinator: Fay, David S
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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.