Investigating how lipids affect membrane proteins in living cells
Official title: Tools for probing the physical paralipidome of membrane proteins
Funded at University of Virginia · NIH-11114200 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how fats in our cells interact with important proteins that help our bodies work properly, using special markers to see these interactions in real-time, which could help us understand how to better target these proteins for new treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Virginia NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Charlottesville, United States) |
| Project start | March 10, 2025 |
| Project end | February 28, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $186,250 |
| NIH project number | 1R21CA300756-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11114200 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with conditions related to membrane protein dysfunction, such as certain metabolic or neurological disorders.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with conditions unrelated to membrane proteins or lipid metabolism may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding the interactions between membrane proteins and lipids in living cells. By using advanced techniques to modify membrane proteins with special fluorescent markers, the study aims to visualize and measure the unique lipid environments surrounding these proteins. This approach will help uncover how lipids influence the function of membrane proteins, which are crucial for many biological processes and drug targets. The research will involve direct measurements in cellular contexts, providing insights that have not been achieved before.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new strategies for drug development by enhancing our understanding of membrane protein functions.
How similar studies have gone: While there have been studies on lipid-protein interactions, this approach of directly measuring lipid environments in living cells is relatively novel and untested.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Virginia
Charlottesville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Levental, Kandice Rose — University of Virginia
- Study coordinator: Levental, Kandice Rose
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.