Molecular links between cell division and differentiation in embryonic stem cells
Official title: Molecular feedback between cell division cycle and differentiation in pluripotent stem cells
Funded at University of California Santa Cruz · NIH-11392359 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A research project at UC Santa Cruz explores how embryonic stem cells connect their division cycles with turning into different cell types, aiming to uncover how growth and development are coordinated.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Santa Cruz NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Santa Cruz, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $376,841 |
| NIH project number | 5R35GM147395-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11392359 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not applicable to patients directly; this is basic stem cell biology using cell models.
✕Less likely to help
No direct patient benefit expected during basic mechanistic studies in cell lines.
What this research studies
This project studies embryonic stem cells to understand how their rapid division is connected to their ability to become any cell type. Researchers will use CRISPR screens to find new regulators of the MAPK signaling pathway, and then map how Mek and Erk kinases control protein activity in these cells. They will also apply chemical-genetic tools and phosphoproteomics to reveal the substrate networks that link cell division to differentiation. The goal is to uncover molecular feedback loops that coordinate growth with fate decisions, which could inform regenerative medicine approaches.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: A clearer picture of how stem cells balance growth and specialization could guide safer, more effective regenerative therapies.
How similar studies have gone: Previous CRISPR screens and phosphoproteomics have successfully mapped signaling networks in stem cells, supporting this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Shariati, Ali — University of California Santa Cruz
- Study coordinator: Shariati, Ali
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Unlocking the full power of long-read DNA sequencing
A science team is improving long-read sequencing tools so researchers can get complete gene and transcript information from human and mouse tissues with easier, high-accuracy methods.
-
Protein–RNA interactions in cancer
A study to understand how a protein called IGF2BP3 affects RNA and metabolism in cancers, including high-risk acute leukemia.
-
Mess-free detection: a robust, antibody-free platform for multiplexed protein tests
This grant explores a new, highly stable designer protein and luciferase system to detect proteins at the point of care without antibodies, using multiple signals for better diagnostics.
-
Understanding how jellyfish eyes develop and regrow to learn about regeneration
Scientists are studying jellyfish to map how their eyes form and repair themselves, hoping to uncover clues that could someday help human medicine.
-
Understanding how variant histones influence cancer-related chromatin behavior
This NIH grant will map how histone variants interact with other proteins to influence chromatin and cancer-related processes.
-
New ways to compare thousands of human and vertebrate genomes
Aims to build scalable genome comparison tools and new formats to analyze genomes from thousands of species, with a focus on human and neurodevelopmental regions relevant to autism.
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.