How STIM and Orai proteins help cells control calcium signals
The Molecular Basis of the STIM/Orai Signaling Pathway
Researchers are working to understand how STIM and Orai proteins control calcium signals in cells so that new ways to treat conditions like fibrosis and some cancers can be developed.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Pennsylvania State Univ Hershey Med Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Hershey, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11189703 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project studies the molecular steps by which STIM proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum activate and physically couple to Orai calcium channels at the cell membrane. Scientists will use cell lines, biochemical and structural methods, and animal models to map how different STIM and Orai versions create specific calcium signals. The team will link genetic changes in these proteins to cell remodeling processes seen in fibrosis and cancer and use that knowledge to guide the design of drugs that change calcium signaling. The work is laboratory-focused but aims to produce tools and targets that could lead to future patient-facing therapies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with fibrotic diseases (for example pulmonary or renal fibrosis) or cancers associated with altered calcium signaling would be the most relevant patient groups for future trials based on this research.
Not a fit: Patients with conditions unrelated to calcium signaling or those seeking immediate treatment are unlikely to benefit directly because this is preclinical laboratory research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could identify drug targets that modify calcium signaling to slow or reverse fibrosis and affect growth-related processes in some cancers.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has linked STIM/Orai pathways to immune defects, muscle and skin problems, fibrosis, and cancer, but translating those findings into drugs remains largely at the preclinical stage.
Where this research is happening
Hershey, United States
- Pennsylvania State Univ Hershey Med Ctr — Hershey, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zhou, Yandong — Pennsylvania State Univ Hershey Med Ctr
- Study coordinator: Zhou, Yandong
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.