Understanding how cells divide: microtubules and chromosome separation
Gardner Lab MIRA Proposal: Microtubules and Mitosis
This project learns how tiny filaments inside cells (microtubules) and the forces they generate help chromosomes separate correctly, which is important for cancers tied to faulty cell division.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Minnesota NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Minneapolis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11325338 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers combine lab experiments on cells with detailed computer and physical models to see how microtubule length and structure control protein binding and force generation during mitosis. They measure how tension and anaphase forces act on chromosomes and use simulations to test whether proposed mechanisms are physically plausible. The team focuses on how small molecular changes can lead to larger disruptions in chromosome segregation and genome integrity. Findings aim to clarify basic steps that go wrong in cancers with chromosome instability.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients with cancers characterized by chromosome instability or those interested in contributing tumor or cell samples for basic research may be most relevant to this work.
Not a fit: Patients looking for immediate new treatments or direct clinical care are unlikely to benefit directly from this basic laboratory and modeling research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal mechanisms behind chromosome mis-segregation and point toward new strategies to prevent or treat cancers driven by cell division errors.
How similar studies have performed: Related cell-biophysics studies have produced important insights into mitosis, but translating those basic findings into clinical therapies is still early and ongoing.
Where this research is happening
Minneapolis, United States
- University of Minnesota — Minneapolis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gardner, Melissa — University of Minnesota
- Study coordinator: Gardner, Melissa
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.