How the body's daily clock controls cell proteins after genes are read
Investigating Circadian Post-Transcriptional Regulation.
Researchers are finding out how the body's daily clock changes how cells make and manage proteins, which may affect people with cancer or immune conditions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Troy, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11146598 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project looks at how the circadian clock controls proteins after the initial gene message (mRNA) is made. Scientists will use cell and molecular experiments, biophysical methods, and analysis of biological samples to identify pathways that time immune-related protein production. The team will study specific clock protein complexes and how their physical properties influence formation of larger molecular machines that set protein levels. The goal is to connect these molecular mechanisms to immune and metabolic processes relevant to cancer.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants would be people with cancer or immune-related conditions who can provide blood or tissue samples or take part in timing-focused sample collections.
Not a fit: People without cancer or immune conditions, or those seeking immediate changes to their medical care, are unlikely to gain direct benefit from this basic laboratory-focused research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help time treatments better and point to new therapies that target clock-controlled protein processes to improve cancer and immune outcomes.
How similar studies have performed: Prior work has shown links between circadian clocks and gene expression or treatment timing, but using post-transcriptional and biophysical mechanisms to explain those links is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Troy, United States
- Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute — Troy, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hurley, Jennifer Marie — Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
- Study coordinator: Hurley, Jennifer Marie
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.