Understanding how actin and microtubules work together in cancer cells
Official title: Mechanisms of coordinated actin and microtubule dynamics
Funded at Upstate Medical University · NIH-11380516 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are studying how cell skeletons called actin and microtubules are built and coordinated to affect cancer cell behavior.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Upstate Medical University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Syracuse, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2019 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $440,100 |
| NIH project number | 5R35GM133485-08 |
| Project ID | NIH-11380516 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with cancers could indirectly benefit through future therapies targeting cytoskeletal dynamics and condensate biology.
✕Less likely to help
Immediate patient benefit is unlikely; this is a mechanistic study in cellular systems.
What this research studies
This project will develop new tools to watch actin filaments and microtubules in real time, at the level of single molecules. It will also explore how these cytoskeletal systems interact with membrane-less protein condensates, which may influence cancer cell processes. By using an advanced in vitro imaging setup and an optogenetic system that models neurodegenerative-like changes, the study aims to quantify how cytoskeletal dynamics change in disease-like conditions and relate these changes to cellular function.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to better understanding of cancer cell movement and division, potentially informing new therapeutic strategies.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has shown that cytoskeletal dynamics are crucial for cell behavior; this project extends those insights with advanced imaging and disease-mimicking conditions.
Where this research is happening
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Upstate Medical University
Syracuse, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ridilla, Jessica L. — Upstate Medical University
- Study coordinator: Ridilla, Jessica L.
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.