How our cells quickly respond to physical forces in muscles and the heart
Defining nuclear mechanisms for ultrarapid mechanically induced gene expression
This project aims to understand how cells in our body, especially in muscles and the heart, quickly turn on specific genes when they experience physical forces.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cornell University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ithaca, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11180384 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Our bodies' cells constantly experience physical forces, like stretching or pressure, and they need to adapt by turning on certain genes. This process, called mechanotransduction, is vital for tissues like muscles and skin, and problems with it can lead to conditions such as muscular dystrophy and heart disease. While we know a lot about how cells sense these forces at their surface, new findings suggest that cells can activate genes much faster than previously thought, even before signals from the cell surface can reach the nucleus. This project will explore these newly discovered "ultra-rapid" ways cells respond to physical forces directly within the cell's control center, the nucleus, focusing on skeletal muscle cells.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients with conditions like muscular dystrophy or heart disease, where cells struggle to respond to physical forces, could eventually benefit from therapies developed from this fundamental understanding.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate treatment options would not directly benefit from this foundational laboratory research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Understanding these rapid cellular responses could lead to new ways to prevent or treat diseases like muscular dystrophy and heart disease, which are linked to how cells react to physical stress.
How similar studies have performed: Recent preliminary data from this research group and others suggest that cells can indeed activate genes much faster than previously understood, indicating a novel area of investigation.
Where this research is happening
Ithaca, United States
- Cornell University — Ithaca, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lammerding, Jan — Cornell University
- Study coordinator: Lammerding, Jan
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.