TULP3 and cilia function in human health
Official title: TULP3 integrates essential ciliary functions
Funded at University of Wisconsin-Madison · NIH-11540349 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project studies how a key ciliary protein, TULP3, helps cells in human tissues communicate signals through primary cilia, with the goal of understanding diseases linked to ciliary dysfunction.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Wisconsin-Madison NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Madison, United States) |
| Project start | July 15, 2026 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $249,000 |
| NIH project number | 4R00GM154060-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11540349 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with diseases or conditions related to ciliary function or genetic variants affecting ciliary proteins could be candidates for future translation or related studies.
✕Less likely to help
This grant focuses on basic research in cell models and does not promise direct treatment today for any individual patient.
What this research studies
Primary cilia are tiny cell antennae that sense signals important for development, immunity, metabolism, and more. The research aims to develop better tools to study cilia function in human cells, including synchronized ciliogenesis in retinal cells and advanced mass spectrometry to map signaling events over time. By exploring how TULP3 controls traffic of sensory receptors into cilia and its role in ciliogenesis, the work may reveal new ways that cilia influence health and disease. Patient mutations linked to TULP3 will be examined to connect genetic variation with cellular effects.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Better understanding of how cilia signal could lead to new strategies for diagnosing or treating disorders related to ciliary dysfunction.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows that studying ciliogenesis and ciliary GPCR trafficking can reveal important regulatory mechanisms, supporting this approach as promising yet still exploratory.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Madison, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Turn, Rachel Elizabeth — University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Study coordinator: Turn, Rachel Elizabeth
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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.