PolyTACs: a new way to remove harmful membrane proteins from cells
Official title: Polymeric Lysosome Targeting Chimeras (PolyTACs): A biomaterials platform for cell-specific degradation of membrane proteins
Funded at University of Massachusetts Amherst · NIH-11365184 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new polymer-based system called PolyTACs aims to selectively remove membrane proteins from cells, potentially improving treatments by eliminating problematic proteins rather than just blocking them.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Massachusetts Amherst NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Hadley, United States) |
| Project start | June 9, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $539,219 |
| NIH project number | 1R01EB037006-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11365184 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are patients whose diseases involve specific membrane proteins targeted by PolyTACs (based on the proteins studied in the project).
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose disease proteins are not targeted by PolyTACs or who have conditions without membrane-protein drivers may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project focuses on a polymeric platform that directs membrane proteins to lysosomes for degradation, which could provide longer-lasting effects than traditional drugs that merely block protein activity. By engaging cellular degradation pathways, PolyTACs may tackle extracellular and membrane proteins that drive disease. The approach may be broadly applicable to many conditions where specific surface proteins contribute to pathology. The work combines materials science with cell biology to test how well these polymers can target and degrade chosen proteins. If successful, it could open a new route for therapies that reduce disease drivers at the source.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could benefit from more durable treatments that remove disease-driving membrane proteins.
How similar studies have gone: Early work on protein degradation strategies suggests potential, but PolyTACs represent a novel, expanded approach for extracellular membrane proteins.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Hadley, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Thayumanavan, Sankaran — University of Massachusetts Amherst
- Study coordinator: Thayumanavan, Sankaran
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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.