Understanding how cell signals work to improve future medicines
Decoding Structural Determinants of Efficacy and Specificity in a GPCR Subfamily
This project helps us understand how important cell communication proteins work, which can lead to better medicines with fewer side effects.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Columbia University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11324347 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Our cells have special proteins called GPCRs that act like switches, responding to signals and telling the cell what to do. Many current medicines target these GPCRs, but we don't fully understand how they change shape to activate cell signals. This project uses advanced computer models and lab experiments to map these tiny, atomic-level movements. By understanding these precise changes, we aim to design future medicines that are more effective and have fewer unwanted side effects.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This foundational research does not involve direct patient participation or recruitment at this stage.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate treatment options will not directly benefit from this basic science research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to the development of new, more precise medications for a wide range of conditions by improving our understanding of how drugs interact with their targets.
How similar studies have performed: While the general approach of studying protein structure is established, applying these multi-scale biophysical methods to complex GPCR multimers with large extracellular domains is a novel and challenging aspect of this work.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Columbia University Health Sciences — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Latorraca, Naomi — Columbia University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Latorraca, Naomi
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.