Investigating how ATP and ADP affect cell communication in the body
Official title: Optical Tools to Study Purinergic Signaling
Funded at Wellesley College · NIH-11005733 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how certain molecules in the brain help immune cells communicate, and it aims to create new tools to measure these molecules in real-time, which could help us understand brain health and diseases better.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Wellesley College NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Wellesley, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2022 |
| Project end | December 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $320,137 |
| NIH project number | 5R01GM134380-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11005733 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with conditions related to immune system dysfunction, such as infections or neuroinflammatory diseases.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with stable conditions that do not involve immune or metabolic dysfunction may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding purinergic signaling, which involves the molecules ATP and ADP that play crucial roles in communication between cells. By developing advanced sensors through protein engineering, the study aims to measure the levels of these molecules in real-time, particularly in the brain where they influence immune cell functions. The research will explore how different metabolic states impact the behavior of microglia, the brain's immune cells, which could lead to insights into various diseases and conditions. This approach addresses the challenges of measuring low concentrations of these nucleotides in live specimens.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new therapeutic strategies for diseases involving immune dysfunction and cellular communication.
How similar studies have gone: While the specific approach of using engineered sensors for purinergic signaling is novel, related research has shown promise in understanding cell communication and immune responses.
Where this research is happening
-
Wellesley College
Wellesley, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Tantama, Mathew — Wellesley College
- Study coordinator: Tantama, Mathew
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.