Measuring tissue matrix proteins and attached sugar chains in brain and cancer
Methods for measuring matrisome molecule similarity during disease processes
This project develops lab and computer methods to compare structural proteins and sugar chains in tissue samples from people with cancers and brain conditions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston University Medical Campus NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11307024 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are creating lab and computer tools to detect and compare matrisome molecules — the structural proteins and their attached sugar chains — in tissue slides from cancer and brain conditions. They will use mass spectrometry to extract and sequence glycosaminoglycans and glycoproteins from biopsies and archived tissue slides and apply bioinformatics to interpret the complex data. The team will also develop statistical methods to quantify how similar or different these molecules are across disease states and aging. Findings may reveal molecular patterns linked to neurodegeneration, development, or tumor behavior.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with cancers or neurological conditions who can provide tissue samples (biopsy, surgical specimens, or donated tissue) would be most relevant to this work.
Not a fit: Healthy volunteers without available tissue samples or people seeking immediate personal treatment benefits are unlikely to gain direct benefit from this methods-focused grant.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, these methods could reveal new biomarkers or targets that help diagnose or guide treatment for cancers and brain diseases.
How similar studies have performed: Related mass spectrometry and glycomics approaches have produced promising research findings and potential biomarkers, but routine clinical use of these methods is still emerging.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Boston University Medical Campus — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zaia, Joseph — Boston University Medical Campus
- Study coordinator: Zaia, Joseph
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.