How cells move and connect in the body
Official title: Making and breaking cell-cell contacts in development
Funded at University of California Santa Barbara · NIH-11139600 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research explores how groups of cells move and form new connections, which is important for understanding development, wound healing, and how cancer spreads.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Santa Barbara NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Santa Barbara, United States) |
| Project start | February 1, 2005 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $371,183 |
| NIH project number | 5R01GM073164-18 |
| Project ID | NIH-11139600 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This foundational biological research does not directly involve patient participation at this stage, but future clinical applications could benefit patients with various cancers or wound healing challenges.
✕Less likely to help
Patients seeking immediate treatment options or direct clinical interventions would not find direct benefit from participating in this basic science project.
What this research studies
Our bodies are made of cells that constantly move and interact, especially during development and when tissues heal. Sometimes, cells need to move together as a group, making and breaking connections with their neighbors. This process is also crucial for how cancer cells spread throughout the body. We are using fruit flies as a model to observe these cell movements in detail, uncovering the basic rules governing these complex cellular behaviors.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Understanding these fundamental cell movements could lead to new ways to prevent cancer from spreading or to improve wound healing.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has identified several steps and proteins involved in cell separation and connection in this fruit fly model, providing a strong foundation for this continued investigation.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Montell, Denise J. — University of California Santa Barbara
- Study coordinator: Montell, Denise J.
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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.