How inositol lipids control cell membrane function in health and cancer
Directing Membrane Function with Inositol Lipids in Health and Disease
This work focuses on how inositol lipids in cell membranes control cell behavior and whether fixing their problems could help people with cancer and some genetic disorders.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11237575 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will map how the phosphoinositide lipid PI(4,5)P2 controls membrane permeability, signaling, vesicle traffic, and cell division using lab-grown cells and molecular tools. They will manipulate the enzymes that make or break PI(4,5)P2, apply imaging and biochemical assays to track effects, and define three specific mechanisms that link lipid metabolism to distinct cellular processes. The team will use human cell lines and, where relevant, patient-derived samples or disease models tied to cancer and rare genetic disorders. The overall aim is to pinpoint the exact steps that malfunction in disease and suggest ways to restore normal membrane function.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with cancers or rare inherited disorders linked to membrane lipid dysfunction, or individuals willing to donate tissue or blood samples for research, would be most relevant.
Not a fit: Patients whose conditions are unrelated to membrane lipid problems or who need immediate clinical treatment are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this basic research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could reveal new targets or strategies to correct membrane-related defects and lead to better treatments for some cancers and genetic diseases.
How similar studies have performed: Previous basic research has established that phosphoinositides are central to many cell functions, but turning that knowledge into human therapies is still largely experimental.
Where this research is happening
Pittsburgh, United States
- University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh — Pittsburgh, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hammond, Gerald R — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Hammond, Gerald R
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.