Organelle crosstalk and autophagosome biogenesis in human cells
Official title: The crosstalk of organelles involved in autophagosome biogenesis
Funded at University of Cincinnati · NIH-11402733 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are studying how interactions between cell compartments control autophagy to better understand cancer and neurodegenerative diseases.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Cincinnati NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cincinnati, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2018 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $405,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R35GM128837-08 |
| Project ID | NIH-11402733 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates include individuals with cancer or degenerative neurologic disorders where autophagy is implicated and can potentially be targeted by future therapies.
✕Less likely to help
People not affected by cancer or degenerative neurologic disorders may not directly benefit from this basic mechanistic study.
What this research studies
This project looks at how organelles communicate and fuse during the formation of autophagosomes, which are essential for cellular waste recycling. Using in vitro reconstitution and advanced live-cell imaging, scientists aim to map the molecular players like SNAREs, VPS33A, and Atg9 that regulate this process. The goal is to uncover mechanisms that, when dysregulated, contribute to cancer and neurodegenerative disorders, with the hope of identifying new therapeutic angles. The work builds on preliminary data and seeks to translate basic insights into strategies that could modulate autophagy in disease contexts.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could lead to new approaches to modulate autophagy for treating cancer and neurodegenerative diseases.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown that autophagy and organelle crosstalk influence disease pathways, supporting the potential relevance of this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Cincinnati
Cincinnati, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Diao, Jiajie — University of Cincinnati
- Study coordinator: Diao, Jiajie
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.