Understanding How Heparan Sulfate Interacts with Proteins to Influence Immune and Viral Processes
Official title: Identifying Key Structural Interactions in Heparan Sulfate-Protein Complexes
Funded at California State Univ-Dominguez Hills · NIH-11376915 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are studying how complex sugar chains on cell surfaces interact with proteins to influence immune responses and viral infections, with HIV-1 as a starting point.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | California State Univ-Dominguez Hills NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Carson, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $183,750 |
| NIH project number | 5R16GM150704-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11376915 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals with autoimmune diseases or conditions involving immune dysfunction or viral infections may indirectly benefit from advances arising from this research.
✕Less likely to help
Direct patient benefit may be limited until translational steps translate findings into therapies or diagnostics.
What this research studies
This project uses specially made heparan sulfate libraries and NMR models to map how HS chains bind to specific proteins. By focusing on key interactions, the work aims to illuminate how these bindings affect cell adhesion, coagulation, and immune signaling. The findings could guide the development of new therapies targeting HS-protein interactions to treat autoimmune diseases and viral infections. The study involves human biology through its focus on human immune processes and disease-related proteins, and it builds on existing HS libraries to reveal structurally important contacts.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could open new avenues for therapies that modulate immune responses or block viral entry by targeting HS-protein interactions.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work with HS libraries and structural models has provided insights into HS-protein binding, supporting a promising but still developing approach.
Where this research is happening
-
California State Univ-Dominguez Hills
Carson, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Pederson, Kari Joanne — California State Univ-Dominguez Hills
- Study coordinator: Pederson, Kari Joanne
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.