How cells switch and manage their energy
Cellular mechanisms of bioenergetic plasticity
This project looks at how cells change where and how they make energy, which could matter for people with diabetes and other metabolic disorders.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11311714 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
As someone interested in how disease affects cells, this work uses tiny sensors and live imaging to watch how individual cells make and use ATP in real time. The team pairs those imaging tools with genomic and transcriptomic analyses to see which genes and pathways control energy use in different parts of a cell. They focus on neurons and other cell types to map local metabolic specializations and how mitochondria and glycolysis cooperate. By revealing these cellular mechanisms, the researchers aim to connect basic energy changes to conditions like diabetes and mitochondrial diseases.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with diabetes, inherited mitochondrial disorders, or muscle diseases are the populations most likely to benefit from and to be eligible for related future patient-facing studies.
Not a fit: Patients whose conditions are unrelated to cellular energy metabolism or mitochondrial dysfunction may not see direct benefits from this specific line of research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could identify new cellular targets for correcting energy problems in diabetes and related metabolic or mitochondrial disorders, guiding future therapies.
How similar studies have performed: Live-cell biosensor imaging and genomic approaches have previously revealed important insights into neuronal energy use, but applying them to fine-scale subcellular metabolic specialization is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Saint Louis, United States
- Washington University — Saint Louis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ashrafi, Ghazaleh — Washington University
- Study coordinator: Ashrafi, Ghazaleh
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.