Understanding how protein chemistry drives cellular crowding and disease-related blocks
Official title: Multiscale Computational Models to Investigate the Role of Phase Separation in Biology
Funded at Texas Engineering Experiment Station · NIH-11317004 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are building computer models to understand how tiny protein pieces clump together in cells, which may influence Alzheimer’s-type dementia and related conditions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Texas Engineering Experiment Station NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (College Station, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2024 |
| Project end | April 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $395,208 |
| NIH project number | 5R35GM153388-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11317004 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias who may be affected by cellular mechanisms involving protein phase separation.
✕Less likely to help
This basic research may not directly alter care for any individual patient during the project, but could inform future therapeutic approaches.
What this research studies
This project uses advanced computer simulations paired with lab techniques to map how protein sequences influence the formation and behavior of biomolecular condensates. By connecting atomic-scale details to larger cellular effects, it aims to reveal how phase separation could affect DNA repair, stress responses, and pathological aggregation. The team plans to combine in silico modeling with experimental data from NMR, microscopy, and microrheology to build a predictive framework for condensate behavior in biology. The goal is to translate molecular rules into insights about cellular function that could relate to neurodegenerative disease processes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could lead to better understanding of cellular dysfunction in Alzheimer‑related diseases and inspire new strategies to prevent harmful protein aggregation.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work in biomolecular condensates has shown that sequence features can influence phase behavior, supporting potential translational relevance, though this exact multiscale approach is ongoing.
Where this research is happening
-
Texas Engineering Experiment Station
College Station, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mittal, Jeetain — Texas Engineering Experiment Station
- Study coordinator: Mittal, Jeetain
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.