Understanding GBP1’s role in fighting infections and protecting cells
Official title: Dissecting GBP1-Mediated Immune Responses: From Pathogen Sensing and Defense to Organelle Dynamics
Funded at Case Western Reserve University · NIH-11427756 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study at Case Western Reserve University will explore how GBP1, a protein that helps cells defend against infections, works at the molecular level and how it protects our own cells from pathogens.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Case Western Reserve University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cleveland, United States) |
| Project start | August 11, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $428,203 |
| NIH project number | 1R01AI201547-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11427756 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not applicable for this basic science grant; future patients would benefit if similar GBP1-based therapies are developed.
✕Less likely to help
This work does not involve enrolling patients or directly testing treatments in people.
What this research studies
This project looks at GBP1, a molecule that helps cells defend against bacteria and parasites. Researchers will compare how different lipid attachments affect GBP1’s ability to coat pathogens and will use advanced imaging to see GBP1 interacting with bacterial components. They will also study GBP1 behavior on non-bacterial targets and on internal cell structures, aiming to capture how GBP1 forms and changes its shape during defense. In addition, the team plans to develop methods to tag GBP1 so it can be studied inside living cells. The work combines structural biology with cell biology to uncover how GBP1 distinguishes pathogens from the host.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could reveal new ways to boost cell defenses against drug-resistant infections and inform novel therapeutic strategies.
How similar studies have gone: Previous structural studies of GBP1 exist, but this project aims for physiologically relevant insights and new interaction structures, making it innovative yet building on past work.
Where this research is happening
-
Case Western Reserve University
Cleveland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zhu, Shiwei — Case Western Reserve University
- Study coordinator: Zhu, Shiwei
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.