Tools to see ions and small molecules moving just outside cells
New Technologies for detecting extracellular fluxes
Researchers are building fluorescent sensors that let scientists watch ions and metabolites at the surface of cells to better understand how tissues like brain and heart work.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Worcester, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-10867458 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project aims to convert three types of fluorescent sensors so they can detect chemical changes in the thin sugar coat (glycocalyx) that surrounds cells. One approach chemically attaches protein sensors to cells labeled with an unnatural sugar, a second labels mammalian cells without changing their genes, and a third allows cell-type-specific labeling using chemical genetics. The team will test these methods on primary cells and tissue and hopes to extend them to living animals. If successful, the tools will let researchers visualize extracellular ion and metabolite fluxes in ways not previously possible.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This is a lab-focused technology project rather than a clinical trial, so patient involvement would be limited to donating tissue or cells or taking part in future human studies that use the sensors.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate treatment or direct therapy are unlikely to benefit now because the grant supports development of measurement tools, not a treatment.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, these tools could help researchers discover how cell signaling goes wrong in neurological and cardiac diseases and speed development of better diagnostics and treatments.
How similar studies have performed: Researchers have used fluorescent sensors inside cells before and have labeled cells by similar chemistry, but applying these sensors to the cell surface to measure extracellular fluxes is a relatively new and untested combination.
Where this research is happening
Worcester, United States
- Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester — Worcester, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kobertz, William R — Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester
- Study coordinator: Kobertz, William R
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 below.