Understanding how sugar affects plant growth and signaling
Official title: Disentangling Sugar Signaling in Plants
Funded at Georgia Institute of Technology · NIH-11093557 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how certain enzymes in plants help manage sugar and communicate within the plant, and it's for anyone interested in how understanding these processes can lead to better farming practices.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Georgia Institute of Technology NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2023 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $382,122 |
| NIH project number | 5R35GM150876-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11093557 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for benefiting from this research include agricultural scientists, plant biologists, and farmers interested in improving crop yields and sustainability.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not involved in agriculture or plant biology may not receive direct benefits from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the role of specific enzymes in plants that are involved in sugar metabolism and signaling. By using advanced techniques such as protein engineering and synthetic biology, the researchers aim to create tools that can isolate and monitor the activities of these enzymes without disrupting the plant's overall metabolism. This approach will help clarify how sugar influences plant development and gene expression, which is crucial for understanding plant biology and improving agricultural practices.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to enhanced crop growth and resilience by optimizing how plants respond to sugars.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown success in manipulating plant signaling pathways, indicating that this approach has potential for significant advancements.
Where this research is happening
-
Georgia Institute of Technology
Atlanta, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cheung, Lily S — Georgia Institute of Technology
- Study coordinator: Cheung, Lily S
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Integrative AI tools to map protein sequences to structures and functions
A scientist team will develop advanced AI methods to better connect protein sequences, their 3D shapes, and how they work, using large biological data from sequencing and structures.
-
Robotic ultrasound-guided clot removal for stroke treatment
A new robot-assisted ultrasound system is being developed to help quickly reopen brain arteries during a stroke, with testing in patient-specific 3D-printed models and animal studies.
-
siRNA nanoparticle treatment to stop diabetic kidney damage
A new nanoparticle-delivered gene-silencing treatment aims to lower kidney inflammation in people with diabetes to help protect their kidneys.
-
Nanosensor blood test to spot early pancreatic cancer fingerprints
This project will use a nanosensor blood test to detect early-stage pancreatic cancer by reading a disease 'fingerprint' in patient serum.
-
Synergistic blood-brain barrier opening and targeted glioma treatment with pulsed electric fields
A new approach uses tiny, rapid electric pulses to safely disrupt the brain's protective barrier and enhance targeted treatment for malignant glioma.
-
Dexterous needle ablation for ventricular arrhythmia guided by MRI
A new MRI-guided, robot-assisted catheter delivers deeper heart tissue ablation to treat ventricular tachycardia.
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.