Understanding how proteins change shape over time with mass spectrometry and computer models
Official title: Molecular Structure Determination by Mass Spectrometry and Computational Modeling
Funded at University of Mississippi · NIH-11387681 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are using advanced mass spectrometry and computer modeling to map how proteins’ shapes change, which could improve how we understand diseases related to protein misfunction.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Mississippi NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (University, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2018 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $477,061 |
| NIH project number | 5R01GM127267-08 |
| Project ID | NIH-11387681 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not a direct patient recruitment study; however, advances in protein structure understanding can benefit patients with diseases involving protein misfunction.
✕Less likely to help
No immediate patient participation required for this grant.
What this research studies
This project aims to develop and apply methods that link detailed protein structures to their dynamic behaviors in real time. Using hydroxyl radical footprinting and high-performance computing, researchers will map surface accessibility of amino acids and extend this to time-dependent systems. The work focuses on complex protein interactions and modifications that are important for understanding human biology and disease mechanisms. The outcomes could enhance our ability to predict how proteins function in cells and how to target them with therapies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, it could lead to more accurate models of disease-related proteins and better-targeted treatments.
How similar studies have gone: Previous HRPF approaches have yielded quantitative topography data, and this renewal aims to push into dynamic, time-resolved structures.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Mississippi
University, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sharp, Joshua S — University of Mississippi
- Study coordinator: Sharp, Joshua S
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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.