Understanding how essential membrane transporters work
Official title: Mechanistic studies of essential membrane transporters
Funded at University of Colorado Denver · NIH-10763764 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how certain proteins in our cells work to move important substances in and out, which could help create new medicines for people with diseases linked to these proteins.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Colorado Denver NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Aurora, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $346,711 |
| NIH project number | 1R35GM151970-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10763764 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with conditions related to membrane transport dysfunction or those who may benefit from targeted drug therapies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with conditions unrelated to membrane transporters or those who do not require targeted drug therapies may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the fundamental mechanisms of membrane transporters that are crucial for cellular life and often linked to human diseases. The team aims to explore the structure-function relationships of these transporters, focusing on their substrate selectivity and the development of small molecules that can target them effectively. By employing a multidisciplinary approach that includes biochemistry, microbiology, and molecular dynamics, the research seeks to uncover how these transporters operate and how they can be manipulated for therapeutic purposes. Patients may benefit from the potential development of new drugs targeting these transporters.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to the development of new drugs that specifically target membrane transporters, improving treatment options for various diseases.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in understanding membrane proteins and developing targeted therapies, indicating that this approach has potential for success.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Colorado Denver
Aurora, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zheng, Hongjin — University of Colorado Denver
- Study coordinator: Zheng, Hongjin
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Understanding how alcohol and how couples talk about consent affect intimate partner sexual violence
This project studies how alcohol use and how partners communicate about consent influence intimate partner sexual violence among sexual minority and heterosexual couples.
-
How proteins change and move as heart cells develop
This grant aims to map how protein turnover changes as human iPSCs turn into cardiomyocytes and other cell types, using new labeling and mass-spectrometry methods.
-
Center for Health, Work and Environment
A national center dedicated to improving health in people who work, by studying how jobs affect well-being and safety.
-
Subtyping Core for Research on the Causes of Type 2 Diabetes (SCORE-T2D)
A new U01 grant from a university research team aims to understand why Type 2 diabetes differs so much between people and how to tailor prevention and treatment.
-
Expanded antibody-based clues to TB risk in people with HIV
A clinician-scientist seeks to understand how antibodies in people with HIV may drive the progression from latent TB to active TB, with the goal of identifying clues that could guide future care.
-
Human Trisome Project in Latin America Network
A large, multi-site study of people with Down syndrome across Latin America to better understand health and aging in DS.
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.