Learning how bacteria talk to each other and how cells organize themselves
Official title: Learning biophysical principles ofcellular organization
Funded at Princeton University · NIH-11401022 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers at Princeton will study how bacteria communicate in real environments and how cell components arrange themselves, with goals that could improve understanding of infections and biofilms.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Princeton University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Princeton, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 1, 2025 |
| Project end | August 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $567,394 |
| NIH project number | 5R35GM156427-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11401022 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not applicable to patients directly; the research informs understanding of bacterial behavior and cell biology that may in the future influence health-related strategies.
✕Less likely to help
Direct patient benefit is not part of this basic science grant.
What this research studies
This project explores two big ideas: how bacteria use quorum sensing to share information and coordinate actions in natural, messy settings, and how intracellular condensates organize biomolecules inside cells. The work will examine how spatial structure and changing conditions affect communication among bacteria and interactions with other species, including viruses that infect bacteria. It also investigates phase separation as a way cells organize internal components. The findings could deepen our grasp of microbial communities and cellular organization in real-world contexts.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could lead to new ways to control harmful biofilms and infections by targeting bacterial communication and cellular organization.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies have shown that quorum sensing and phase separation are important in biology, but natural-environment contexts remain less explored.
Where this research is happening
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Princeton University
Princeton, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wingreen, Ned S — Princeton University
- Study coordinator: Wingreen, Ned S
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.