Understanding how certain proteins transport substances across cell membranes in the brain
Official title: Transporter Elucidation Center at the University of California, San Francisco
Funded at University of California, San Francisco · NIH-10931758 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at special proteins that help move medicines and nutrients into the brain, with the goal of finding better ways to treat brain-related health issues.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | September 19, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $959,082 |
| NIH project number | 5UC2HD113474-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10931758 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with neurological disorders or conditions that require targeted drug delivery to the brain.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with conditions unrelated to the blood-brain barrier or those not requiring specialized drug delivery may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on membrane transporters that are crucial for moving drugs, nutrients, and other substances across cell membranes, particularly in the brain's blood-brain barrier. The study aims to systematically characterize specific transport proteins that have not been well understood, using a multidisciplinary approach that includes biology, pharmacology, and computational methods. By identifying the types of substances these transporters can carry, the research seeks to improve our understanding of how to effectively deliver medications to the brain. Patients may benefit from insights that could lead to better drug therapies for neurological conditions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved drug delivery methods for treating brain-related conditions.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in understanding transport proteins, but this specific approach to systematically characterize understudied transporters is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Giacomini, Kathleen M — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Giacomini, Kathleen M
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.