Understanding how cell membranes control lipid balance
Official title: Regulation of Membrane Lipid Homeostasis
Funded at Johns Hopkins University · NIH-11057577 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how our cells control the fats in their membranes, which is important for keeping them healthy, and it's using new technology to find out what helps or hinders this process, which could help us understand diseases related to fat metabolism.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2023 |
| Project end | March 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $368,438 |
| NIH project number | 5R35GM149312-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11057577 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults over 21 years old who may have conditions related to lipid metabolism or cardiovascular health.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with no lipid metabolism issues or those under 21 years old may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the regulation of lipid composition in cell membranes, which is crucial for cell function and health. By utilizing advanced CRISPR technology, the team aims to explore how human cells manage their lipid levels and identify new regulators that influence this process. The research will focus on two main challenges: discovering new factors that affect membrane lipid composition and understanding how fatty acids are exported from lysosomes. This work could provide insights into various cellular functions and diseases related to lipid metabolism.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatments for conditions related to lipid imbalances, such as cardiovascular diseases.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research using CRISPR technology in cell biology has shown promising results, indicating that this approach could yield significant insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Espenshade, Peter J. — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Espenshade, Peter J.
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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.