Understanding how cell surface receptors talk to each other in cancer and other diseases
Official title: Resolving the interaction network of cell surface receptors
Funded at Texas Tech University · NIH-11392426 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are studying how cell surface receptors communicate on live cells to reveal new ways to target cancer and related conditions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Texas Tech University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Lubbock, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $365,339 |
| NIH project number | 5R35GM152126-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11392426 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults with cancers or inflammatory diseases where RTK or GPCR signaling is relevant, or patients contributing biological samples for related studies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with conditions not linked to RTK/GPCR signaling or who are not eligible for related sample collection may see no direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project looks at how receptors on the cell surface come together and influence signals in living cells, which is important for understanding cancer and other inflammatory diseases. The work focuses on two major receptor families, RTKs and GPCRs, and aims to measure their interactions in real time in a natural cell environment. By linking structural biology with cell signaling, the project hopes to uncover how different membrane surroundings and ligands change receptor behavior. The findings could inform better drugs that more precisely target disease-driving signaling pathways.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could lead to more effective cancer therapies by pinpointing how to disrupt harmful receptor interactions.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows that receptor interactions can influence signaling, and this project seeks to quantify these interactions in live cells to advance that knowledge.
Where this research is happening
-
Texas Tech University
Lubbock, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Smith, Adam W. — Texas Tech University
- Study coordinator: Smith, Adam W.
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.