Understanding how blood vessel cells move and connect
Regulation of endothelial cell invasion, migration and cell junction plasticity
This project explores how cells lining our blood vessels move and form connections, which is important for healthy blood flow and often goes wrong in various diseases.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Illinois at Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11139577 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project looks closely at the cells that line our blood vessels, called endothelial cells, and how they form a protective barrier and move around. These processes are vital for our blood vessels to work correctly, but they can become disrupted in many health conditions. Researchers want to understand how specific signals tell these cells when and where to move, and how these signals affect the connections between cells, which control how "leaky" blood vessels might become. By studying these tiny movements and connections, we hope to learn more about what causes problems in blood vessels.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This foundational research does not directly involve patients, but future studies building on this knowledge could benefit individuals with conditions affecting blood vessel integrity or growth.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate treatment or direct clinical intervention would not find direct benefit from this basic science project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new ways to treat diseases where blood vessel function is impaired, such as in cancer, heart disease, or inflammatory conditions.
How similar studies have performed: While much is known about endothelial cell signaling, this project aims to uncover new details about the precise timing and location of signals that control blood vessel cell behavior, making its approach novel in these specific aspects.
Where this research is happening
Chicago, UNITED STATES
- University of Illinois at Chicago — Chicago, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Karginov, Andrei V — University of Illinois at Chicago
- Study coordinator: Karginov, Andrei V
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 below.