Tools to control redox chemistry inside living cells for cancer and other diseases
Official title: Expanding the set of genetically encoded tools for compartment-specific manipulation of redox metabolism in living cells
Funded at Scintillon Institute for Photobiology · NIH-11260993 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A NIH grant is funding development of new genetic tools to tune cellular redox balance, which could help understand and treat cancers and related conditions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Scintillon Institute for Photobiology NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Diego, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2021 |
| Project end | June 30, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $696,495 |
| NIH project number | 2R35GM142495-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-11260993 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with cancers or mitochondrial-related disorders where redox imbalance plays a role.
✕Less likely to help
No immediate clinical benefit until later translational work or trials are developed.
What this research studies
This project aims to create and refine genetic tools that adjust how cells manage redox balance, which is often disrupted in cancer and other diseases. Researchers will build and test sensors and actuators that selectively alter NADH/NAD+ and related coenzyme pools in different cell compartments. The work combines molecular biology, metabolism, and cellular testing to reveal how redox changes influence disease pathways. By understanding these mechanisms, scientists hope to identify new angles for therapies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, these tools could lead to better models of cancer metabolism and potentially new strategies to target redox-related vulnerabilities.
How similar studies have gone: Past work showed that modulating NADH/NAD+ can alter disease-related pathways, supporting potential future applications.
Where this research is happening
-
Scintillon Institute for Photobiology
San Diego, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cracan, Valentin — Scintillon Institute for Photobiology
- Study coordinator: Cracan, Valentin
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.