New Ways to Study the Chemistry Inside Single Cells
Official title: Mass Spectrometry-Based Biochemical Analysis of Single Cells Beyond the Global Proteome
Funded at Brigham Young University · NIH-11175979 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project is creating advanced tools to look closely at the tiny chemical building blocks inside individual cells, which could help us better understand diseases and find new ways to diagnose and treat them.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brigham Young University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Provo, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $378,750 |
| NIH project number | 5R35GM153179-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11175979 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This foundational technology development does not directly involve patient participation, but its future applications could benefit patients with a wide range of conditions requiring detailed cellular analysis.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose conditions do not involve cellular heterogeneity or require highly detailed single-cell biochemical analysis may not directly benefit from this specific technological advancement.
What this research studies
Our bodies are made of many different types of cells, and each cell can behave uniquely, even within the same tissue. Current methods often look at cells in large groups, which can hide important differences in individual cells. This project is developing new, highly sensitive tools to measure the specific proteins, fats, and other chemical molecules found inside single cells. By getting this detailed view of what's happening within each cell, we can better understand how cells function in both health and disease. This deeper understanding could pave the way for more accurate ways to diagnose conditions and create more personalized treatments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to more precise diagnostic tests and more effective, personalized treatments by revealing the unique chemical makeup of individual cells in disease.
How similar studies have gone: While single-cell protein profiling using mass spectrometry has shown recent success, this project aims to develop novel approaches to analyze an even broader range of molecules and modifications within single cells.
Where this research is happening
-
Brigham Young University
Provo, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kelly, Ryan T — Brigham Young University
- Study coordinator: Kelly, Ryan T
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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.