Understanding how hormones are transported in disease-carrying mosquitoes
Official title: Juvenile hormone transporters in disease vector physiology
Funded at University of California Riverside · NIH-10992655 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how certain hormones help mosquitoes grow and reproduce by figuring out how these hormones move into their cells, which could help us find new ways to control mosquito populations that carry diseases.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Riverside NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Riverside, United States) |
| Project start | January 24, 2023 |
| Project end | December 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $367,695 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI171032-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-10992655 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals living in areas affected by mosquito-borne diseases such as Zika, dengue, chikungunya, and yellow fever.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not reside in regions impacted by these diseases or who are not at risk of mosquito exposure may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the mechanisms by which juvenile hormones, crucial for the development and reproduction of mosquitoes, are transported across cell membranes. The study aims to identify specific transporter proteins that facilitate this process, challenging the traditional belief that these hormones simply diffuse into cells. By using both laboratory and live mosquito models, researchers will explore how these transporters function and their implications for mosquito biology. This knowledge could lead to new strategies for controlling mosquito populations that spread diseases.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to innovative methods for controlling mosquito-borne diseases by targeting hormone transport mechanisms.
How similar studies have gone: While the specific approach of targeting hormone transporters in mosquitoes is relatively novel, similar research has shown promise in understanding hormone functions in other organisms.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California Riverside
Riverside, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yamanaka, Naoki — University of California Riverside
- Study coordinator: Yamanaka, Naoki
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.