How growth signals control when cells divide or specialize
Control of cell proliferation and differentiation by growth pathways
This research looks at how the RB pathway tells cells when to stop dividing and start becoming specialized, which could help people with cancer in the future.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Illinois at Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11322719 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You should know researchers are using fruit flies to learn how a cell-control system called the Retinoblastoma (RB) pathway controls when cells divide or become specialized. They focus on proteins like E2F and the fly equivalent of RB to see how these signals work during development and in adult tissues such as muscle. Because fruit flies have a simpler but conserved version of this pathway, lab experiments can reveal basic rules that apply to humans. The findings may help explain how breakdowns in this system lead to diseases like cancer and point to new treatment ideas.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This is laboratory research using fruit flies and does not enroll patients, so there is no participant eligibility for clinical involvement.
Not a fit: Patients should not expect direct or immediate medical benefit from this project since it is basic science rather than a clinical trial.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could improve understanding of cancer causes and suggest new targets for future therapies.
How similar studies have performed: Prior basic studies of the RB pathway have advanced cancer biology knowledge, but translating findings from flies to human treatments remains an ongoing challenge.
Where this research is happening
Chicago, UNITED STATES
- University of Illinois at Chicago — Chicago, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Frolov, Maxim — University of Illinois at Chicago
- Study coordinator: Frolov, Maxim
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.