Technology development for high-resolution biological imaging
Official title: Technology development for high-resolution biological imaging and structural dynamics
Funded at Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC · NIH-11330805 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A research project aims to create new imaging technologies to visualize biological molecules in action at near-atomic detail, potentially helping to uncover how they work and interact with drugs.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Livermore, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $3,099,037 |
| NIH project number | 1R35GM163731-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11330805 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not applicable to a specific patient group; the grant is foundational technology development for future biomedical applications.
✕Less likely to help
Direct patient benefit may be limited during the early technology development phase.
What this research studies
This project focuses on building and proving new tools for high-resolution imaging and tracking structural dynamics of biomolecules in conditions closer to how they exist in living systems. It builds on advances in cryo-electron microscopy and X-ray free-electron lasers to image macromolecular complexes at room temperature. If successful, the work could reveal details of how proteins interact with drug targets and influence human health. The team at Lawrence Livermore National Security plans to demonstrate these technologies through rigorous experiments and validation studies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could enable better understanding of biomolecular function and more precise drug targeting to improve health.
How similar studies have gone: Prior advances in cryo-EM and XFEL approaches have transformed structural biology, suggesting strong potential for breakthrough with new room-temperature imaging technologies.
Where this research is happening
-
Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC
Livermore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Frank, Matthias — Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC
- Study coordinator: Frank, Matthias
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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.