Microfluidic prep to capture ultrafast molecular changes in biology
Official title: Microfluidic Preparation of Specimens to Enable Submillisecond Time-Resolved Cryo-EM
Funded at Columbia Univ New York Morningside · NIH-11396405 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new microfluidic system will quickly prepare samples for time-resolved cryo-EM to capture very fast molecular events related to human biology.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Columbia Univ New York Morningside NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | September 22, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $421,247 |
| NIH project number | 5R01GM144620-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11396405 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with diseases involving fast biomolecular processes such as calcium signaling and ion channel function may ultimately benefit from insights gained by this research.
✕Less likely to help
Healthy individuals or non-molecularly focused diseases may not directly benefit from these findings.
What this research studies
This project develops a microfluidic cryo-EM prep platform called HURRI to enable reaction times below 20 milliseconds. By delivering precise, rapid sample handling and vitrification, it aims to image short-lived intermediate states of biomolecules that are linked to human disease processes. The approach builds on time-resolved cryo-EM to study reactions at millisecond timescales, addressing a major gap in current preparation methods. If successful, it could reveal transient states of ion channels and receptors important for conditions affecting calcium signaling and cell function. The work combines engineering, microscopy, and biophysics to translate fast molecular events into visual insights for disease mechanisms.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could benefit from deeper understanding of rapid molecular processes underlying certain diseases, potentially guiding new therapies.
How similar studies have gone: Prior TRCEM work has shown promise at 20–600 ms; this project aims to push to sub-20 ms with a novel microfluidic approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Columbia Univ New York Morningside
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lin, Qiao — Columbia Univ New York Morningside
- Study coordinator: Lin, Qiao
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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.