Understanding how keratin proteins sense physical forces in cells
Official title: Molecular basis of force-sensing by the keratin network
Funded at University of California at Davis · NIH-10992785 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how certain proteins in skin and other surface cells react when they experience physical pressure, which could help us understand how these cells move and work together, especially for people interested in skin health or healing.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California at Davis NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Davis, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2023 |
| Project end | December 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $354,798 |
| NIH project number | 5R01GM148706-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-10992785 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with epithelial tissue-related conditions, particularly those at risk for cancer metastasis.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with non-epithelial tissue conditions or those not affected by cancer may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the role of keratin proteins in epithelial cells and how they respond to physical forces. By examining the interactions between keratin and other proteins when cells are subjected to mechanical stimulation, the study aims to uncover the mechanisms behind cell behavior and migration. The approach involves advanced biophysical techniques to label and identify proteins that interact with keratin under force, providing insights into how cells communicate and function in their environment.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new strategies for treating conditions related to cancer metastasis and tissue integrity.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding cellular responses to mechanical forces, indicating that this approach could yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California at Davis
Davis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yamada, Soichiro — University of California at Davis
- Study coordinator: Yamada, Soichiro
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
UC Davis IGA Innovation Center
A research center at UC Davis will study gene-edited livestock to improve animal health, safety, and policy through sharing genetic data and findings about genome edits in cattle, pigs, sheep, and goats.
-
Administrative Core of an equitable breast cancer screening program
A national program headed from UC Davis is coordinating several research efforts to improve how breast cancer screening is done in community settings.
-
The role of novelty and surprise in learning for people with Alzheimer’s disease
A study explores how surprising events affect memory and learning in people related to Alzheimer’s disease, using everyday tasks to see how the brain remembers new information.
-
Understanding how distraction affects students and how to measure it better
This grant studies why distracted students, including those with ADHD, struggle in real-life learning and tests a clearer way to measure distraction in everyday settings.
-
California Partnership for Personalized Nutrition
A California clinical center is testing personalized dietary approaches to improve blood sugar and health for adults with diabetes by using big data and AI to tailor meals.
-
Advancing gastric cancer care for Latinos through patient-derived tumor models
Aimed at Latinos with gastric cancer, this project uses patient-derived tumor models to study how cancer biology and treatments work in real tumors.
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.