Learning How Cells Recycle Proteins to Stay Healthy
Understanding and Engineering Chemically Activated Ubiquitin Ligases
This research explores how our cells break down and reuse proteins, which is important for health and disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Virginia Polytechnic Inst and St Univ NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Blacksburg, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11146565 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research explores the ubiquitin-proteasome system, which acts like a recycling center within our cells. This system tags old or damaged proteins with a small marker called ubiquitin, signaling them to be broken down and their components reused. By understanding how this vital process works correctly, and what happens when it goes wrong, we hope to uncover new ways to address various health conditions. This cellular recycling is essential for many bodily functions, including how cells grow, develop blood vessels, and manage inflammation.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This foundational research does not directly involve patient participation at this stage, but future clinical applications could benefit patients with cancers, neurodegenerative diseases, or metabolic disorders.
Not a fit: Patients not affected by conditions related to protein degradation pathways would likely not see direct benefit from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new strategies for treating diseases like cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, and metabolic conditions by targeting the cell's protein recycling system.
How similar studies have performed: The ubiquitin-proteasome system is a well-established area of biological research, and understanding its mechanisms has led to successful drug development in other contexts.
Where this research is happening
Blacksburg, United States
- Virginia Polytechnic Inst and St Univ — Blacksburg, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wright, Robert Clay — Virginia Polytechnic Inst and St Univ
- Study coordinator: Wright, Robert Clay
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.