How fats in cell membranes control protein communication
Lipid regulation of cellular signaling and protein-protein interactions
['FUNDING_OTHER'] · UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO · NIH-11308320
This project looks at how fats in cell membranes help proteins interact, with the goal of improving understanding of cancer and related diseases.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_OTHER'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (Chicago, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11308320 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
From a patient perspective, researchers in this project study how membrane lipids like cholesterol and phosphoinositides influence the way proteins bind and signal inside cells. They use advanced lab imaging that maps lipids in place within cells and combine that with biochemical tests to see how lipid-protein contacts change protein-protein interactions. Much of the work is done in cell-based systems and molecular assays to reveal mechanisms that can go wrong in cancer. The team aims to connect these basic findings to how signaling networks fail in disease and to point toward new therapeutic ideas.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This grant does not run a treatment trial, but people with cancer or those willing to donate tissue or cells for research at the University of Illinois at Chicago would be the most relevant contributors.
Not a fit: People seeking immediate new treatments will not benefit directly because this is laboratory research rather than a clinical treatment study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new ways to target cancer by changing membrane lipids or disrupting harmful protein interactions, guiding future drug development.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies have shown lipids can affect protein interactions and signaling, but translating those findings into therapies is still at an early, exploratory stage.
Where this research is happening
Chicago, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO — Chicago, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: CHO, WONHWA — UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO
- Study coordinator: CHO, WONHWA
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.
Conditions: Cancers