Keeping cell membrane fats and cholesterol balanced
Regulation of Membrane Lipid Homeostasis
Researchers will use CRISPR tools in human cells to find how cells manage membrane fats and LDL-derived fatty acids for people with cholesterol or lipid-related conditions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11308313 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will use CRISPR gene-editing in human cell lines to switch genes on or off and observe which changes alter the mix of fats in cell membranes. They will run large genetic screens to find new regulators that control plasma membrane lipid composition. The team will also study how cells export fatty acids from lysosomes after taking up LDL (low-density lipoprotein) to identify genes needed for that process. This is laboratory research using human cells and does not enroll patients as study participants.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This grant does not enroll patients; it uses human cell lines in the lab rather than recruiting people to participate.
Not a fit: People seeking immediate new treatments or those without lipid-related conditions are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this laboratory-focused work in the near term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new molecular targets that lead to treatments for high cholesterol, atherosclerosis, or other lipid-related disorders.
How similar studies have performed: Previous CRISPR-based screens in human cells have identified key lipid regulators, but the specific mechanism of lysosomal fatty acid export remains largely novel and unproven.
Where this research is happening
Baltimore, United States
- Johns Hopkins University — Baltimore, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Espenshade, Peter J. — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Espenshade, Peter J.
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.