Tracking Tiny Messengers in Cancer Cells
Developing genetically encodable probes for multimodal tracking of exosomal RNA cargo
This project aims to create new tools to watch how tiny packages of genetic material, called exosomes, move between cells and affect cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11136518 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Our bodies' cells communicate using tiny packages called exosomes, which carry important genetic messages, including RNAs, that can influence cell behavior. In conditions like cancer, these exosomal RNAs play a big role in how the disease develops and spreads. Currently, we don't have good ways to see these specific RNA messages moving in real-time. This project will develop new ways to label and track these exosomal RNAs, helping us understand how cancer cells communicate and spread throughout the body.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This foundational work is not directly recruiting patients but aims to benefit individuals with cancer in the future by improving our understanding of the disease.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate treatment options or direct clinical intervention would not benefit from this basic science project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new ways to detect cancer earlier, understand its progression, and develop more targeted treatments by interrupting harmful cell communication.
How similar studies have performed: Existing methods track the outer shell of exosomes, but this project introduces a novel approach to specifically track the RNA messages inside them.
Where this research is happening
Chapel Hill, United States
- Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill — Chapel Hill, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Nguyen, Juliane — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Nguyen, Juliane
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.