How Proteins Change Shape to Control Cell Signals in Cancer
Dynamics of Ligand Binding and Protein Kinase Regulation
This work explores how certain proteins in our cells, called kinases, change their shape to control important signals, aiming to find better ways to target them in diseases like cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | State University New York Stony Brook NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stony Brook, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11094877 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Our cells rely on a large family of proteins called kinases to send important signals, but when these proteins don't work correctly, it can lead to diseases like cancer. Developing effective medicines for cancer is challenging because many kinases look very similar, making it hard to create drugs that target only the problematic ones. We know that successful drugs often work by attaching to specific shapes these kinases take on, but we don't fully understand how kinases switch between these different shapes. This project aims to uncover the secrets of these shape changes to help create more precise treatments and overcome drug resistance in cancer.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This foundational research does not directly involve patient participation, but its findings are highly relevant to individuals living with various types of cancer.
Not a fit: Patients whose conditions are not related to protein kinase dysregulation or who are not seeking new therapeutic options may not directly benefit from this specific line of research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to the development of new, more precise cancer treatments that specifically target disease-causing proteins while minimizing harm to healthy cells.
How similar studies have performed: While many existing cancer drugs successfully target specific protein shapes, this research explores the less understood area of how these shapes change, which is a novel approach to improving drug design.
Where this research is happening
Stony Brook, United States
- State University New York Stony Brook — Stony Brook, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Seeliger, Markus a — State University New York Stony Brook
- Study coordinator: Seeliger, Markus a
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.