Measuring cell membrane tension in living organisms
Official title: New Chemical Tools to Measure Cell Membrane Tension in Vivo
Funded at University of California, San Diego · NIH-11018562 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working on a new tool that helps scientists see how the tension in cell membranes changes in real-time inside living organisms, which could help us understand how cells move and divide, and ultimately improve treatments for various diseases.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Diego NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project start | March 1, 2024 |
| Project end | February 28, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $213,300 |
| NIH project number | 5R21GM153048-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11018562 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with conditions that involve altered cell membrane dynamics, such as cancer or other diseases affecting cell migration.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with stable conditions that do not involve significant changes in cell membrane tension may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research aims to develop a new imaging probe that can measure cell membrane tension in real-time within living organisms. By utilizing advanced techniques like fluorescence intensity and photoacoustic imaging, the study seeks to provide insights into how membrane tension affects various biological processes such as cell migration and division. The innovative approach allows for imaging through several centimeters of tissue, making it a significant advancement over current methods. This could lead to a better understanding of diseases and how therapies impact cellular behavior.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could enhance our understanding of cellular mechanics and improve therapeutic strategies for various diseases.
How similar studies have gone: While the approach of using photoacoustic imaging is innovative, similar techniques in measuring cellular properties have shown promise in other studies.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Diego
La Jolla, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jokerst, Jesse Vincent — University of California, San Diego
- Study coordinator: Jokerst, Jesse Vincent
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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.