How tiny cell antennae control Hedgehog signals
Protein dynamics underlying cilium-dependent Hedgehog signaling
['FUNDING_R01'] · MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL · NIH-11146667
Researchers are using advanced lab techniques to understand how tiny cell antennae called primary cilia control Hedgehog signals that affect development and some cancers.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (BOSTON, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11146667 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
This lab project focuses on primary cilia, the small antenna-like structures on cells that are essential for Hedgehog signaling important in development and certain tumors. The team will rebuild key parts of the Hedgehog pathway from purified proteins, use single-molecule imaging to watch how individual proteins behave, and run biochemical and cell-based assays to see how complexes form at the base and tip of cilia. By linking molecular behavior to cellular responses, they aim to explain how defects in cilia-based signaling lead to birth defects and cancers. The work is conducted in the lab at Massachusetts General Hospital using cell systems and biochemical methods rather than a clinical trial.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Although this grant does not enroll patients directly, its findings are most relevant to people with basal cell carcinoma, medulloblastoma, or congenital skeletal and craniofacial malformations linked to Hedgehog signaling.
Not a fit: People with conditions unrelated to Hedgehog signaling, such as routine metabolic or cardiovascular diseases, are unlikely to see direct benefits from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could reveal mechanisms behind congenital malformations and cancers driven by Hedgehog pathway errors, pointing to new targets for diagnostics or therapies.
How similar studies have performed: Many studies have mapped the proteins in the Hedgehog pathway and used cellular imaging, but fully reconstituting cilia-based signaling and watching single-molecule interactions is a newer and not-yet-established approach.
Where this research is happening
BOSTON, UNITED STATES
- MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL — BOSTON, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: SUBRAMANIAN, RADHIKA — MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL
- Study coordinator: SUBRAMANIAN, RADHIKA
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.