Understanding Cell Forces and Movement in Health and Disease
Official title: Advancing Visualization and Quantification of Subcellular and Biomolecular Mechanics through Mechanochemical Protocols
Funded at Clarkson University · NIH-11193451 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research aims to better understand how cells move and generate forces, which can tell us a lot about various health conditions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Clarkson University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Potsdam, United States) |
| Project start | September 17, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $359,803 |
| NIH project number | 5R35GM154994-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11193451 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This foundational research does not involve direct patient participation, but its findings could eventually benefit patients with a wide range of conditions linked to cell mechanics.
✕Less likely to help
Patients seeking immediate treatment or direct clinical intervention will not receive benefit from this basic science research.
What this research studies
Our cells are not still; they are constantly moving and creating forces, and these actions can signal different diseases. Current methods to observe these tiny movements and forces have limitations, making it hard to get a full picture. This project brings together chemistry and mechanical engineering to create new ways to see and measure these cell mechanics at a very detailed level. By using special chemical and mechanical techniques, we hope to overcome existing challenges and gain a clearer view of what's happening inside cells.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could provide a deeper understanding of how diseases develop at the cellular level, potentially leading to new ways to diagnose or treat them in the future.
How similar studies have gone: While there have been significant advancements in cell mechanics, this project proposes novel interdisciplinary approaches to address current technological and methodological limitations.
Where this research is happening
-
Clarkson University
Potsdam, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lu, Xiaocun — Clarkson University
- Study coordinator: Lu, Xiaocun
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.