How confined migration changes cell movement and energy in tissues
Official title: Mechanical Memory of Confined Migration
Funded at Rice University · NIH-11449641 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Scientists are testing how squeezing cells in tiny spaces changes how they move and use energy, which could affect healing and tissue repair.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rice University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | September 4, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $393,665 |
| NIH project number | 1R01GM160881-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11449641 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This study is preclinical and lab-based; it does not require patient participants.
✕Less likely to help
Healthy volunteers or patients are not involved in this project as participants.
What this research studies
This grant uses a microfabricated platform and organoid models to study how confinement alters cell migration and cellular energy states. By tracking single cells and biosensors of metabolism, researchers will map how confinement creates memory that makes future movement faster. They will also explore how biomaterial design influences these effects to guide cells during wound healing. The work aims to identify the key parameters that prime cells for movement and energetic changes in constrained environments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could lead to biomaterial designs that improve tissue repair and wound healing by guiding cell movement and energy use.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical studies have shown that confinement can alter migration and metabolism, supporting the concept of cellular memory in constrained spaces.
Where this research is happening
-
Rice University
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Reinhart-King, Cynthia a. — Rice University
- Study coordinator: Reinhart-King, Cynthia a.
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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.