How cells organize themselves to form healthy body parts
Cadherin regulation of planar polarity
This research looks at how cells arrange themselves to build healthy organs and tissues, and how problems in this process can lead to serious developmental conditions like heart defects or spina bifida.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Pennsylvania State Univ Hershey Med Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Hershey, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11128764 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Our bodies are built from many cells that need to work together and arrange themselves in specific ways to form organs and tissues. This project explores how cells communicate and organize themselves, a process called planar cell polarity (PCP), which is essential for proper development. When PCP doesn't work correctly, it can lead to severe developmental problems such as heart conditions, issues with cilia (tiny hair-like structures), or neural tube defects like spina bifida. We aim to understand how a specific protein, Celsr1, helps cells stick together and organize themselves, and how disruptions in this process contribute to human diseases. By studying these fundamental cell interactions, we hope to uncover new insights into the causes of these developmental disorders.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This foundational research is relevant for individuals and families affected by developmental disorders such as cardiomyopathies, ciliopathies, and neural tube defects.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate treatment or direct clinical intervention for their conditions would not directly benefit from participating in this foundational laboratory research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could provide a deeper understanding of how developmental disorders like cardiomyopathies, ciliopathies, and neural tube defects arise, potentially leading to new ways to prevent or treat them.
How similar studies have performed: While the general concept of planar cell polarity is well-established, this specific focus on Celsr1 adhesive interactions and its role in human disease represents a novel area of investigation.
Where this research is happening
Hershey, United States
- Pennsylvania State Univ Hershey Med Ctr — Hershey, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Stahley, Sara N — Pennsylvania State Univ Hershey Med Ctr
- Study coordinator: Stahley, Sara N
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.