Understanding Cell Surface Proteins with DNA Tools
Official title: Small and Mechanosensitive Membrane Proteins Studied with DNA-based Tools
Funded at Kent State University · NIH-11123220 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project develops new DNA-based tools to help us better understand important proteins found on the surface of our cells, which are involved in many diseases.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Kent State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Kent, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2021 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $375,072 |
| NIH project number | 5R35GM142706-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11123220 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This foundational research does not directly involve patients, but future studies building on these tools could benefit individuals with a wide range of physiological and infectious diseases.
✕Less likely to help
Patients seeking immediate treatment or direct clinical intervention would not receive benefit from this basic science project.
What this research studies
Our cells have special proteins on their surfaces, called membrane proteins, that are essential for many body functions like moving nutrients and sensing the environment. These proteins are also key players in various diseases, including infections, and are targets for many medicines. However, it's very difficult to see their exact shapes because they are embedded in fatty membranes. This project aims to create new tools using DNA to make these proteins easier to study by making them water-soluble while keeping them in a natural-like environment, helping scientists discover their precise structures.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to a deeper understanding of how diseases develop and help in designing more effective medicines that target these crucial cell surface proteins.
How similar studies have gone: While the specific DNA-based tools are novel, the broader field of structural biology has successfully determined many protein structures, leading to significant advancements in medicine.
Where this research is happening
-
Kent State University
Kent, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Schmidt, Thorsten Lars — Kent State University
- Study coordinator: Schmidt, Thorsten Lars
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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.