Investigating how Galectin-3 and its variants influence cell behavior by clustering molecules on cell surfaces.
Official title: Galectin-3 and engineered variants for clustering glycolipids and glycoproteinson membrane surfaces
Funded at University of Colorado · NIH-10652941 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at a protein called Galectin-3 to see how it affects the way cells communicate and behave, especially in cancer cells, with the hope of finding new treatments that could help patients like you.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R15 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Colorado NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Colorado Springs, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $429,928 |
| NIH project number | 1R15GM150123-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10652941 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with solid tumors or cancers that express high levels of Galectin-3.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with conditions unrelated to cell adhesion or signaling may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding how Galectin-3, a protein that binds to specific sugars on cell surfaces, can influence the clustering of molecules that are crucial for cell signaling and behavior. By engineering different forms of Galectin-3, the researchers aim to control how these molecules cluster, which could lead to new ways of treating cancers and other diseases. The approach involves studying the interactions between Galectin-3 and various cell surface components, particularly in cancer cells where Galectin-3 is often overexpressed. Patients may benefit from insights gained in this research that could lead to novel therapeutic strategies targeting cell behavior.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatments that manipulate cell behavior to combat cancers and other diseases.
How similar studies have gone: While the approach of targeting molecule clustering is relatively novel, similar strategies have shown promise in other areas of cancer research.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Colorado
Colorado Springs, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Vander Zanden, Crystal Marie — University of Colorado
- Study coordinator: Vander Zanden, Crystal Marie
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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.