Understanding how certain body molecules connect to fight diseases
Official title: Identifying Key Structural Interactions in Heparan Sulfate-Protein Complexes
Funded at California State Univ-Dominguez Hills · NIH-11105900 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how special sugar molecules in our bodies, called heparan sulfate, link up with proteins to understand their role in conditions like autoimmune diseases and viral infections.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | California State Univ-Dominguez Hills NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Carson, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $183,750 |
| NIH project number | 5R16GM150704-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11105900 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This foundational research does not directly involve patient participation at this stage.
✕Less likely to help
Patients seeking immediate treatment options would not directly benefit from this early-stage laboratory research.
What this research studies
Our bodies have important sugar molecules called heparan sulfate (HS) that are found on all cells and play a big role in how our bodies work, including how cells stick together, how tissues heal, how blood clots, and how our immune system responds. These molecules are also involved when viruses, like HIV-1, infect cells. Because HS molecules come in so many different forms, it's been tricky to figure out exactly how they connect with proteins. This project uses specially made HS molecules and advanced imaging techniques to map out these connections in detail. By understanding these specific interactions, we hope to open new doors for developing medicines for conditions like autoimmune diseases and viral infections.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new ways to develop treatments for autoimmune diseases and viral infections by targeting these specific molecular interactions.
How similar studies have gone: While the importance of these molecular interactions is known, this project uses a novel structural approach to map them in detail, building on previous non-structural or computational work.
Where this research is happening
-
California State Univ-Dominguez Hills
Carson, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Pederson, Kari Joanne — California State Univ-Dominguez Hills
- Study coordinator: Pederson, Kari Joanne
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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.