Mapping how cholesterol breakdown products signal inside cells
Molecular tools for cholesterol metabolite signaling
Researchers will create chemical probes to find where cholesterol and its metabolites act in human cells to help people with cancer, brain disorders, and immune diseases.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Illinois at Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11235913 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project builds special chemical probes that stick to cholesterol metabolites so scientists can pull out the proteins those molecules touch. The team will combine chemoproteomics (to identify protein partners) with advanced fluorescence microscopy (to see where those interactions happen inside cells). They will apply these tools to cholesterol, oxysterols, and related metabolites linked to cancer, immune problems, and neurodegeneration. The goal is to map precise molecular interactions that could point to new targets for future therapies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with cancers, neurodegenerative conditions, or immune-related diseases are the long-term beneficiaries because the findings may guide new treatments, though this project itself is lab-based rather than a patient trial.
Not a fit: Patients seeking an immediate treatment or those without cholesterol-related disease are unlikely to see direct clinical benefit from this laboratory-focused research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could reveal new disease-related protein targets and pathways that lead to better diagnostics or drug targets for cancer, neurodegeneration, and immune disorders.
How similar studies have performed: Related chemical-probe and chemoproteomics approaches have already identified promising protein interactors (for example TMEM97) in preclinical work, but clinical translation is still early.
Where this research is happening
Chicago, UNITED STATES
- University of Illinois at Chicago — Chicago, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ondrus, Alison Evelynn — University of Illinois at Chicago
- Study coordinator: Ondrus, Alison Evelynn
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.