Plasmon-Enhanced Chiroptical Spectroscopy to Study Membrane-Binding Proteins
Official title: UV Plasmon-Enhanced Chiroptical Spectroscopy of Membrane-Binding Proteins
Funded at Boston University (Charles River Campus) · NIH-11404082 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A research project aims to make advanced light-based methods more sensitive so scientists can learn how membrane-binding proteins behave in their natural environment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston University (Charles River Campus) NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 23, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $346,500 |
| NIH project number | 5R01GM150225-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11404082 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not applicable; this is a laboratory technique development project, not a patient study.
✕Less likely to help
No direct patient participation or benefit at this stage.
What this research studies
This project focuses on improving two light-based techniques, CD and ROA, to study membrane-binding proteins without needing special sample prep. By designing plasmonic nanostructures, the team hopes to boost signal strength and reduce how much sample is needed. The goal is to obtain clearer structural information about how these proteins interact with cell membranes under physiological conditions. The work could make these powerful measurements more accessible for understanding protein function in health and disease.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could enable faster and more precise analysis of membrane-binding proteins, supporting drug development and better understanding of cellular signaling.
How similar studies have gone: Previous efforts have shown that plasmonic enhancements can increase signals, but applying them to membrane-binding protein spectroscopy is still being developed.
Where this research is happening
-
Boston University (Charles River Campus)
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Reinhard, Bjoern Markus — Boston University (Charles River Campus)
- Study coordinator: Reinhard, Bjoern Markus
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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.