Understanding how PIEZO ion channels work in the body
Official title: The Molecular Basis of PIEZO Ion Channel Function
Funded at Scripps Research Institute, the · NIH-10948369 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at special channels in our cells that help turn physical sensations, like touch, into electrical signals, and it's for anyone interested in how these channels work and how they might be linked to certain health issues.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Scripps Research Institute, the NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $125,000 |
| NIH project number | 1K99GM155547-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10948369 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with sensory defects or neurological conditions such as distal arthrogryposis caused by mutations in PIEZO channels.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without any known genetic mutations affecting PIEZO channels or those with unrelated conditions may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the PIEZO1 and PIEZO2 ion channels, which are crucial for converting mechanical forces into electrical signals in the body. By using advanced imaging techniques, the study aims to uncover the structural mechanics of these channels at a single molecule level, which is essential for understanding their role in various physiological processes such as touch and breathing. The research will also explore how these channels function differently in various cellular environments and how they interact with cell membranes. This knowledge could lead to better insights into diseases caused by mutations in these channels.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved treatments for sensory defects and neurological diseases linked to PIEZO mutations.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding ion channel functions, but this specific approach using fluorescence nanoscopy is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Scripps Research Institute, the
La Jolla, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mulhall, Eric Michael — Scripps Research Institute, the
- Study coordinator: Mulhall, Eric Michael
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
The Participant Center helps people join and stay in a nationwide health study
A nationwide program to support people in joining, contributing biosamples, and staying connected to a large health study in the United States.
-
Data Sharing and Bioinformatics Core for Viral Systems Biology
A center-led effort to manage, share, and interpret large viral systems biology data using open tools and a community-friendly portal.
-
Germline-targeted HIV vaccines using membrane liposome tech to trigger bnAbs
A new HIV vaccine approach aims to spark broadly neutralizing antibodies by showing MPER on membranes, tested in models and early studies to guide future human trials.
-
Antivirals for hemorrhagic fever viruses like LASV, SFTSV, and EBOV
A multi-institutional effort to find and validate antiviral compounds that block key viral proteins from LASV, SFTSV, and EBOV to help people at risk from serious hemorrhagic fevers.
-
Developing new antivirals for flaviviruses
A research team is working to create oral antiviral drugs targeting flaviviruses to treat infections that affect millions of people.
-
CoV inhibitors targeting non-enzymatic SARS-CoV-2 components
A multicenter research effort seeks antiviral ideas that block SARS-CoV-2 parts that don’t work through traditional enzymes, aiming to help people affected by COVID-19.
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.