Understanding how certain enzymes control cell functions and responses to stress
Official title: Regulation of PPM family serine/threonine phosphatases
Funded at Brandeis University · NIH-11090818 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at special enzymes that help control how cells make decisions, which is important for understanding diseases like cancer and inflammation, and it could help find new ways to treat these conditions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brandeis University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Waltham, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2025 |
| Project end | March 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $393,149 |
| NIH project number | 1R35GM158434-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11090818 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for participation or benefit from this research would include individuals with cancers or inflammatory diseases linked to cell signaling dysregulation.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with conditions unrelated to cell signaling or those not affected by dysregulated phosphatase activity may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the regulation of PPM family serine/threonine phosphatases, which are enzymes that play a crucial role in controlling cell fate decisions through reversible protein phosphorylation. By studying these phosphatases, particularly in bacteria, the research aims to uncover how they are directed to specific substrates and regulated, which is essential for understanding their role in diseases. The findings could lead to new therapeutic targets for conditions where these processes are dysregulated, such as cancers and inflammatory diseases. The approach combines molecular biology techniques with insights from bacterial physiology to draw parallels with human signaling pathways.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatments for diseases caused by dysregulated cell signaling, including various cancers.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown success in targeting similar phosphatase pathways for therapeutic development, indicating a promising avenue for this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Brandeis University
Waltham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bradshaw, Niels Raab — Brandeis University
- Study coordinator: Bradshaw, Niels Raab
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Unwinding SNAP aid and its effect on healthcare and disparities
A large study will look at how cutting back food assistance like SNAP changes healthcare use and outcomes, especially for people with differing levels of food insecurity.
-
Roles of Recycling Endosomes in Neuronal EV Cargo Traffic
A scientist at Brandeis University is studying how brain cells control the tiny vesicles they release, which may affect memory loss in Alzheimer’s disease.
-
Sulfur-stabilized HIV glycoconjugates to help create powerful bnAbs
Researchers are testing sugar-coated HIV vaccine components in animals to see if they can better trigger broadly-protective antibodies.
-
Cycling Molecular Assemblies to Target Golgi Traffic in Cancer Cells
A novel, first-of-its-kind approach uses tiny, self-organizing molecular structures to selectively disrupt Golgi trafficking in cancer cells, aiming to influence how cancer cells grow and respond to signals.
-
How low oxygen and genetic tweaks may repair mitochondrial problems linked to Alzheimer’s and other disorders
A Johns Hopkins-style? (Note: institution specified later) patient-facing overview: researchers will study tiny cell power stations in mitochondria to see if low-oxygen conditions and specific genetic changes can fix problems associated with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.
-
Synthesis of thioaminoketal antimicrobial peptides and how they work
Researchers are developing new antimicrobial peptides called sactipeptides and figuring out precisely how they kill bacteria.
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.