Understanding how membrane proteins fold and work using simple designed building blocks
Official title: Decoding membrane protein folding and functional principles using simple designed building blocks
Funded at Scripps Research Institute, the · NIH-11430341 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are testing new, simple-designed membrane proteins to learn the rules that govern how they fold, stay stable, and function in cellular membranes so future medicines can target membrane proteins more effectively.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Scripps Research Institute, the NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project start | July 20, 2026 |
| Project end | April 30, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $506,000 |
| NIH project number | 1R35GM166357-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11430341 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not a patient-facing study; results may benefit future patients through improved drug design and understanding of membrane protein biology.
✕Less likely to help
Direct patient participation is not required for this basic-science project.
What this research studies
This project uses designed, simplified membrane protein models and biophysical experiments to reveal general principles of sequence, structure, and energetics that determine how membrane spans behave in lipid environments. By creating accessible model systems, the work aims to uncover predictable rules for stability, selectivity, and function of membrane proteins. The approach combines protein design with measurements that illuminate how these proteins interact with their lipid surroundings, with the goal of informing better drug design. The research is planned at Scripps Research Institute under a long-term, multi-year grant to advance basic science with potential implications for human health.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: It could lead to clearer design rules for drugs targeting membrane proteins and accelerate the development of safer, more effective therapies.
How similar studies have gone: Past work using simplified model proteins has begun to reveal principles of membrane protein assembly and energetics; this project extends that approach with new design strategies.
Where this research is happening
-
Scripps Research Institute, the
La Jolla, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mravic, Marco — Scripps Research Institute, the
- Study coordinator: Mravic, Marco
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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.