Understanding how cells separate chromosomes during division
Official title: Molecular Analysis of Kinetochore Function
Funded at Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Res · NIH-11313827 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are mapping the molecular machines in human cells that make sure chromosomes split correctly during division, which matters for conditions like cancer and some birth defects.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Res NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cambridge, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2018 |
| Project end | April 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $793,650 |
| NIH project number | 5R35GM126930-09 |
| Project ID | NIH-11313827 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This grant does not enroll patients—it is basic laboratory research using human cell lines rather than a clinical trial or patient registry.
✕Less likely to help
Patients needing immediate clinical treatment are unlikely to receive direct short-term benefits from this basic science project.
What this research studies
The team works with human cells in the lab to change specific genes and watch how the kinetochore and mitotic spindle behave during cell division. They use live-cell imaging to follow protein localization and dynamics, and affinity purification plus proteomics to identify the proteins that interact. By combining functional genetics, cell biology, and proteomics, they aim to build a detailed molecular model of how chromosomes are attached and separated. The work also looks at how these mechanisms differ in various cell states such as meiosis or quiescence.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could explain why chromosome segregation goes wrong in cancers and some birth defects and help guide future diagnostics or therapies.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies have identified many individual kinetochore and spindle components, and this project builds on that successful body of basic research to create a more integrated molecular picture.
Where this research is happening
-
Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Res
Cambridge, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cheeseman, Iain Mcpherson — Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Res
- Study coordinator: Cheeseman, Iain Mcpherson
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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.