Understanding how fats in cell nuclei affect diseases

Unexpected roles of phosphoinositides in the nucleus

NIH-funded research University of Nebraska Medical Center · NIH-11136471

This work explores how special fats inside the cell's control center, the nucleus, contribute to conditions like cancer and autoimmune diseases.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Nebraska Medical Center NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Omaha, United States)
Project IDNIH-11136471 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

Our bodies contain tiny fats called phosphoinositides (PIs) that are crucial for how our cells work, even though they are present in small amounts. When these PIs don't function correctly, it can lead to serious health problems such as cancer, autoimmune conditions, and nerve disorders. While PIs are known to be important for cell signaling, we are discovering that a significant portion of them are also found inside the cell's nucleus, where their exact roles are still a mystery. This project aims to uncover these unexpected functions of nuclear PIs and identify the proteins they interact with, which could reveal new ways diseases develop.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: This foundational research is not recruiting patients directly, but future clinical applications may benefit individuals with cancers, neurodegenerative diseases, metabolic disorders, or autoimmune conditions.

Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate treatment options or direct clinical intervention would not find direct benefit from this basic science investigation.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to a deeper understanding of disease mechanisms and potentially identify new targets for treatments for conditions like cancer and autoimmune disorders.

How similar studies have performed: The roles of phosphoinositides in the cell nucleus are largely unknown, making this a novel and largely unexplored area of research.

Where this research is happening

Omaha, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions Cancers
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.