How tiny cell antennae (primary cilia) control signals that shape development and disease
Signaling at the primary cilium in development and disease
This work looks at how tiny antenna-like structures on cells, called primary cilia, hold and send signals that guide tissue growth and can be disrupted in disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ut Southwestern Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Dallas, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11311846 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will examine how signals are kept inside and passed along by primary cilia to direct tissue development without breaking the cilia themselves. They will study proteins that help traffic signals to cilia—like Tulp3, Gpr161, and Ankmy2—and how these influence cAMP signaling. The team will use cell experiments, advanced imaging, genetic tools, and whole-tissue models such as organoids or animal tissues to link subcellular events to organ-level outcomes. The goal is to explain how ciliary compartmentalization and counterregulatory signaling shape morphogenesis in different tissues.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with inherited ciliopathies, congenital developmental disorders tied to ciliary genes, or those willing to donate tissue samples for research are most relevant to this work.
Not a fit: Patients whose conditions do not involve cilia signaling or developmental pathways (for example many isolated adult chronic diseases) are unlikely to benefit directly.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could reveal targets or biomarkers that eventually help diagnose or treat ciliopathies and developmental disorders.
How similar studies have performed: Previous lab work has identified ciliary trafficking proteins and links to cAMP signaling, but translating these mechanistic findings into human treatments remains largely untested.
Where this research is happening
Dallas, United States
- Ut Southwestern Medical Center — Dallas, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mukhopadhyay, Saikat — Ut Southwestern Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Mukhopadhyay, Saikat
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.