How the calcium-sensing protein CaMKII shapes heart, brain, and egg cell function
Official title: Unraveling the molecular events driven by CaMKII in Ca2+-coupled cells
Funded at University of Massachusetts Amherst · NIH-11379585 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project explains how different forms of the calcium-sensing protein CaMKII work in heart cells, brain cells, and egg cells to support heartbeat, memory, and fertilization.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Massachusetts Amherst NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Hadley, United States) |
| Project start | September 24, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $59,738 |
| NIH project number | 3R35GM145376-04S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11379585 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with cardiac rhythm disorders, certain memory or cognitive conditions, or infertility related to egg activation are the kinds of patients who might benefit from or be recruited for follow-up studies based on this work.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with conditions that do not involve calcium signaling or CaMKII biology (for example many cancers or metabolic diseases) are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this specific project.
What this research studies
The team will map the many versions of CaMKII made by cells and track how RNA splicing and chemical modifications change each version. They will use genetic sequencing, protein and structural analyses, and lab experiments in cardiomyocytes, neurons, and oocytes to see how different CaMKII types respond to calcium signals. The researchers will examine how variant-specific shapes and interactions lead to different timing and outcomes in cell signaling. The goal is to explain why one enzyme supports very different processes like heartbeat pacing, memory formation, and egg activation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: A clearer picture of CaMKII variants could point to new targets for treating heart rhythm issues, some memory-related disorders, or infertility tied to egg activation.
How similar studies have gone: Earlier research has linked CaMKII to heart, brain, and egg function, but the large-scale mapping of hundreds of splice variants and their structural consequences is largely novel.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Hadley, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Stratton, Margaret M — University of Massachusetts Amherst
- Study coordinator: Stratton, Margaret M
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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.