Understanding how fluid movement affects cells in the body
Integrative Approaches for the Study of the Fluidic Cellular Microenvironment
['FUNDING_OTHER'] · UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL · NIH-11138740
This research explores how the movement of fluids around our cells influences important processes related to conditions like cancer and heart disease.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_OTHER'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (CHAPEL HILL, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11138740 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
Our bodies are full of fluids that constantly move around our cells, and this research aims to understand how cells sense and react to these fluid movements. We are using advanced tools like tiny engineered devices and computer models, combined with cell biology, to see how forces from moving fluids impact how cells stick together and send signals. The goal is to identify the specific molecules that help cells feel these forces and how these tiny responses lead to bigger changes in tissues. This work could help us better understand how diseases like cancer and cardiovascular conditions develop and progress.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This foundational laboratory research does not involve direct patient participation, but it is relevant to anyone interested in the basic mechanisms underlying cancer and cardiovascular diseases.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate treatment options or direct clinical interventions would not find direct benefit from this basic science investigation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could uncover new fundamental ways that cells contribute to diseases, potentially leading to new strategies for treatment or prevention in the future.
How similar studies have performed: While the researcher's prior work focused on fluid flow in cancer and blood vessels, this independent laboratory is exploring these effects in less-understood tissues and processes, suggesting a novel direction.
Where this research is happening
CHAPEL HILL, UNITED STATES
- UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL — CHAPEL HILL, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: POLACHECK, WILLIAM J — UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL
- Study coordinator: POLACHECK, WILLIAM J
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 below.
Conditions: Cancers, Cardiovascular Diseases