Understanding and designing proteins that can change shape
Official title: Evolution and design of metamorphic fold-switching proteins
Funded at Medical College of Wisconsin · NIH-11124127 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at a special protein that can change its shape and how it helps our immune system, with the goal of learning more about how it works and finding ways to create similar proteins that could be useful for health.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Medical College of Wisconsin NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Milwaukee, United States) |
| Project start | June 16, 2023 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $554,302 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI168423-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11124127 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with conditions that could benefit from innovative protein therapies, particularly those related to immune system dysfunction.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with conditions unrelated to protein function or immune response may not receive any benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates a unique type of protein known as a metamorphic protein, which can switch between two different structures. The team aims to uncover how this protein evolved and to develop new methods for creating similar proteins from scratch. By studying the metamorphic protein XCL1, which plays a role in the immune system, the researchers will explore its structural characteristics and how it interacts with different receptors. This work involves advanced techniques like ancestral sequence reconstruction and biophysical measurements to understand the protein's function and evolution.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new therapeutic proteins that can adapt their function, potentially improving treatments for various diseases.
How similar studies have gone: While the concept of metamorphic proteins is relatively novel, previous studies on protein folding and function have shown promising results, indicating potential for success in this area.
Where this research is happening
-
Medical College of Wisconsin
Milwaukee, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Volkman, Brian F — Medical College of Wisconsin
- Study coordinator: Volkman, Brian 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.