Understanding how cell surface molecules interact in diseases like cancer and diabetes
Glycolipid biointerface to decipher disease-implicated ganglioside-protein interactions
['FUNDING_R01'] · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA RIVERSIDE · NIH-11117084
This project aims to understand how special sugar-fat molecules on cell surfaces, called gangliosides, interact with proteins to affect conditions like cancer and type 2 diabetes.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA RIVERSIDE (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (RIVERSIDE, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11117084 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
Our cells are covered in a complex layer of sugar-fat molecules, including gangliosides, which play important roles in how cells communicate and function. When these gangliosides don't work correctly, it can contribute to serious health issues like certain cancers and type 2 diabetes. Researchers are building a new system that mimics the cell surface to better understand how these gangliosides interact with proteins. This new tool will help uncover the exact ways these interactions contribute to disease. By understanding these complex processes, we hope to find new ways to address these conditions.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This foundational work does not directly involve patient participation but aims to benefit individuals living with or at risk for certain cancers and type 2 diabetes in the future.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate new treatments would not directly benefit from this basic science project, as it focuses on developing tools and understanding fundamental mechanisms.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new targets for treatments that could help manage or prevent certain cancers and type 2 diabetes by correcting how cell surface molecules interact.
How similar studies have performed: While the general importance of gangliosides in disease is known, this project proposes a novel biomimetic platform and bioanalytical approach to study their interactions, addressing a current technical limitation.
Where this research is happening
RIVERSIDE, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA RIVERSIDE — RIVERSIDE, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: CHENG, QUAN JASON — UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA RIVERSIDE
- Study coordinator: CHENG, QUAN JASON
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.
Conditions: Adult-Onset Diabetes Mellitus, Cancers