Multiscale computer models to understand how phase separation shapes biology
Official title: Multiscale Computational Models to Investigate the Role of Phase Separation in Biology
Funded at Texas Engineering Experiment Station · NIH-11311635 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A patient-friendly project using computer models to study how proteins form droplets inside cells and how this relates to Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Texas Engineering Experiment Station NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (College Station, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2024 |
| Project end | April 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $209,480 |
| NIH project number | 3R35GM153388-03S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11311635 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias, or patients contributing samples to studies of protein phase separation and cellular organization.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without neurodegenerative disease may not directly benefit from this basic modeling research.
What this research studies
This project uses advanced computer simulations to link protein sequences to the way they form droplets (phase separation) inside cells. Researchers plan to combine in silico modeling with experimental techniques to explore how these droplets influence cellular processes, DNA damage response, and possibly pathological aggregates. The work aims to create a predictive framework across different scales, from atomic details to larger cellular contexts, to better understand disease-relevant biology. By collaborating with experimental labs, the team hopes to translate molecular insights into clearer ideas about disease mechanisms.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could illuminate how certain brain diseases develop at the molecular level and guide the development of new therapies targeting phase separation processes.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies have shown that phase separation plays a role in cellular function and disease, and this work builds on those findings with a computational framework and experimental collaboration.
Where this research is happening
-
Texas Engineering Experiment Station
College Station, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mittal, Jeetain — Texas Engineering Experiment Station
- Study coordinator: Mittal, Jeetain
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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.