How tiny cell antennae control signals linked to birth defects and cancer
Official title: Regulation of the Hedgehog Pathway by new cilium proteins in Development and Disease
Funded at University of California Riverside · NIH-11472784 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are looking for new proteins in cells' tiny antennae that control signals involved in certain birth defects and cancers to point toward future treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Riverside NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Riverside, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2022 |
| Project end | April 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $334,487 |
| NIH project number | 7R01GM143276-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11472784 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be people with cancers or developmental disorders known to involve Hedgehog pathway changes who are willing to provide clinical information or tissue samples for research at UC Riverside.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without conditions linked to Hedgehog signaling or those seeking immediate treatment are unlikely to get direct benefit from this basic lab-focused project.
What this research studies
This research studies the primary cilium — a tiny antenna on cells — to find proteins that control Hedgehog signaling linked to some birth defects and cancers. The team uses a new proximity-labeling tool together with quantitative proteomics to tag and identify proteins that enter the cilium during signaling. They will test these findings in cells and animal models to see how the proteins affect neural progenitor growth and the movement of a key signaling protein called Smoothened. The goal is to map the molecular steps inside the cilium that could later guide diagnostics or targeted therapies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could uncover new targets for diagnostics or therapies for conditions driven by abnormal Hedgehog signaling, including some birth defects and cancers.
How similar studies have gone: Related studies have previously identified ciliary components and tied Hedgehog signaling to disease, but this project uses a newer proximity biotinylation approach to find previously unrecognized cilium proteins.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California Riverside
Riverside, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ge, Xuecai — University of California Riverside
- Study coordinator: Ge, Xuecai
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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.