Nesprin-1: a protein that may control airway muscles in asthma
Official title: Nesprin-1 in Airway Smooth Muscle
Funded at Albany Medical College · NIH-11296430 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study at Albany Medical College will look at how nesprin-1 affects airway smooth muscle behavior in allergic asthma and whether this could lead to new ways to reduce breathing trouble.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Albany Medical College NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Albany, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2026 |
| Project end | April 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $578,090 |
| NIH project number | 1R01HL178575-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11296430 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not a patient-facing study yet; findings could inform future trials or tissue-based research relevant to people with allergic asthma.
✕Less likely to help
No direct patient participation in this grant as described.
What this research studies
Airway hyperresponsiveness and thickening of the airway muscle layer are key features of allergic asthma that many people experience. This project will examine nesprin-1, a protein that connects the cell’s structural framework to the nucleus, to understand its role in muscle contraction, growth, and movement of airway smooth muscle cells. The team will explore how nesprin-1 influences contractility, cytoskeletal remodeling, and cell proliferation, using lab studies that model human airway tissue. By uncovering these mechanisms, the research aims to clarify how asthma pathology develops and identify potential targets for future therapies. The work is designed to build a clearer picture of nesprin-1’s function in smooth muscle and asthma-related changes in the airways.”
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new targets to reduce airway hyperresponsiveness and airway remodeling in asthma.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has linked cytoskeletal proteins to airway cell behavior, but nesprin-1’s specific role in airway smooth muscle and asthma is not yet established.
Where this research is happening
-
Albany Medical College
Albany, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Tang, Dale D. — Albany Medical College
- Study coordinator: Tang, Dale D.
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.