New tools to understand how sugar changes on proteins affect cell signals in diseases like cancer and diabetes
Spatiotemporal tools to interrogate O-GlcNAc functions in cellular signaling
This project is creating new ways to watch how sugar molecules attach to proteins in cells, which could help us understand diseases like breast cancer and diabetes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Wayne State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Detroit, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11077201 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Our cells constantly send signals, and tiny sugar molecules called O-GlcNAc play a big role in these messages, especially when metabolism changes or stress occurs. Currently, we don't have good ways to see exactly when and where these sugar changes happen in real-time, which makes it hard to connect cell metabolism to diseases. This project aims to build special tools that can track these sugar changes with high precision, allowing us to see how they influence cell processes linked to conditions like breast cancer and diabetes. By observing these events as they unfold, we hope to uncover new insights into how these diseases develop.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This foundational research does not directly involve patients, but future studies building on these tools could benefit individuals with or at risk for adult-onset diabetes mellitus or breast cancer.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate treatment options or direct clinical intervention would not receive benefit from this basic science tool development.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could provide a deeper understanding of how cellular metabolism contributes to diseases like breast cancer and diabetes, potentially leading to new ways to prevent or treat them.
How similar studies have performed: While O-GlcNAc modifications are known, the development of real-time, spatially resolved tools to observe their dynamic function in living cells is a novel and currently unmet need.
Where this research is happening
Detroit, United States
- Wayne State University — Detroit, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fehl, Charlie — Wayne State University
- Study coordinator: Fehl, Charlie
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.