Light-up protein sensors that track chloride inside cells and tissues
Fluorescent Biosensors to Illuminate Chloride Homeostasis and Signaling
This work builds glowing protein tools to watch how chloride moves in cells, which could help people with conditions linked to chloride problems like cystic fibrosis, certain bone and muscle disorders, and some cancers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas Dallas NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Richardson, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11259527 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are creating new fluorescent protein sensors that light up where and when chloride is present in living cells and tissues. They will engineer and refine these tools across several projects to fix current design limits and improve reliability. The team will test the sensors in common lab cell lines and live systems and share easy-to-use protocols so many labs can adopt the methods. Over time this will let scientists see chloride dynamics in health and disease more clearly.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients with chloride-linked conditions—for example cystic fibrosis, some hearing loss, myotonia, kidney stones, osteopetrosis, certain cardiac or neurological conditions, or related cancers—would be most relevant and might be asked to provide samples or join future follow-up studies.
Not a fit: People without chloride-related conditions or those needing immediate clinical therapy are unlikely to gain direct, short-term benefit from this lab-focused research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, these sensors could help scientists pinpoint chloride-related disease mechanisms and speed development of new diagnostics or treatments for disorders tied to chloride imbalance.
How similar studies have performed: Earlier fluorescent chloride indicators exist and have been useful in lab research, but this project aims to overcome key sensitivity and usability limits to make better, more widely adoptable tools.
Where this research is happening
Richardson, United States
- University of Texas Dallas — Richardson, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dodani, Sheel — University of Texas Dallas
- Study coordinator: Dodani, Sheel
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.