Time-resolved, real-time views of how small molecules interact with proteins
Official title: Enabling time resolved studies of small molecule-protein interactions with pharmacological relevance using serial crystallography
Funded at University of Calif-Lawrenc Berkeley Lab · NIH-11331611 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aiming to watch how drugs bind to proteins in real time, using advanced X-ray techniques to capture dynamic interactions in conditions similar to the human body.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Calif-Lawrenc Berkeley Lab NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Berkeley, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2026 |
| Project end | June 30, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $662,335 |
| NIH project number | 1R35GM164093-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11331611 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with conditions relevant to antibiotic action and resistance, or patients participating in therapies where time-dependent drug-binding insights could improve outcomes.
✕Less likely to help
Patients unlikely to benefit are those not exposed to antibiotics or drugs studied in this project, or those not eligible for related future trials.
What this research studies
This project uses cutting-edge time-resolved crystallography at XFELs to observe how small molecules interact with proteins as reactions happen, at room temperature. It focuses on understanding binding and reaction mechanisms relevant to antibiotics and other pharmacologically important compounds. By capturing sequential structural snapshots, researchers hope to reveal how drugs engage targets over time and under near-physiological conditions. The work involves preparing proteins and ligands, delivering them to the beam line, and collecting fast, sequential data to map dynamic changes. The findings could inform drug design and improve our understanding of how time affects binding and efficiency.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could benefit from more efficient and targeted antibiotic therapies through better understanding of drug-target dynamics.
How similar studies have gone: Prior time-resolved crystallography work has demonstrated the value of capturing dynamic binding; this project seeks to extend those insights to pharmacologically important interactions.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Calif-Lawrenc Berkeley Lab
Berkeley, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kern, Jan F — University of Calif-Lawrenc Berkeley Lab
- Study coordinator: Kern, Jan F
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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.