How membrane signals guide immune cells to infections and help them eat germs
Mechanisms of Signaling on Membrane Surfaces
This project looks at how immune cells use membrane-based signals to move toward infections and engulf harmful microbes, with relevance for cancer and immune disorders.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Colorado NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boulder, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11251306 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From my perspective, researchers are studying molecules called PI3K that make lipid signals on cell membranes to guide macrophages (a type of immune cell) as they move and swallow pathogens. They use laboratory cell studies, biochemical assays, and live imaging to watch how membranes, actin, and reactive oxygen species change during chemotaxis and phagocytosis. The team focuses on two PI3K classes that produce different lipid signals and then follow the downstream proteins those lipids activate. By mapping these steps in detail, they hope to reveal how malfunctions in the pathway contribute to cancer, infections, or autoimmune problems.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This is a lab-based research program that does not enroll patients, but its findings would be most relevant to people affected by cancers, immune deficiencies, chronic infections, or autoimmune conditions.
Not a fit: People without immune-related or growth-related conditions (for example, those with purely structural or non-immune genetic disorders) are unlikely to see direct benefit from this basic lab research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new drug targets or strategies to restore proper immune cell movement and pathogen clearance, potentially helping people with cancer, chronic infections, or autoimmune disease.
How similar studies have performed: Prior laboratory research has shown that PI3K lipid signals control cell movement and phagocytosis, but turning those mechanistic insights into proven therapies remains largely untested.
Where this research is happening
Boulder, UNITED STATES
- University of Colorado — Boulder, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Falke, Joseph J — University of Colorado
- Study coordinator: Falke, Joseph J
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.