How centrioles control cell division and cilia function
Centriole assembly and function for centrosome and cilia biology
This project seeks to understand how tiny cell parts called centrioles work so that future treatments for cancers and some effects of Down syndrome can be improved.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Colorado Denver NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Aurora, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11258633 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are exploring how centrioles — the small structures that organize a cell's skeleton and build cilia — form and change during the cell cycle. They will examine the RNAs and RNA-binding proteins that regulate centriole assembly and test how centrioles withstand mechanical forces using cell-based and model-system laboratory experiments. The team links these basic mechanisms to problems seen in cancers and in trisomy 21 (Down syndrome), and to specialized cells that make many motile cilia important for breathing and development. Although the work is lab-focused and does not test new treatments in people yet, the findings could point to new biological targets for future diagnostics or therapies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with cancers involving centrosome or cell-division abnormalities and families affected by Down syndrome are the groups most likely to benefit from this research line.
Not a fit: Patients looking for an immediate new therapy or those with conditions unrelated to cell division or cilia are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this laboratory-based project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new biological targets that lead to better diagnostics or treatments for cancers and conditions caused by centriole defects.
How similar studies have performed: Prior basic research has linked centriole and centrosome defects to cancer and developmental disorders, but the RNA-focused approaches used here are relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
Aurora, UNITED STATES
- University of Colorado Denver — Aurora, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Pearson, Chad G — University of Colorado Denver
- Study coordinator: Pearson, Chad G
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.