Understanding how XPR1 controls brain phosphate and calcifications
Official title: Mechanistic Insights into XPR1 Phosphate Export and Brain Calcification
Funded at Sloan-Kettering Inst Can Research · NIH-11428357 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are studying how a protein called XPR1 controls phosphate in brain cells to understand why calcium deposits form in the brain and how this relates to aging and neurological symptoms.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Sloan-Kettering Inst Can Research NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $464,565 |
| NIH project number | 1R01NS150328-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11428357 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with PFBC or related brain calcification conditions and anyone with suspected disruptions in brain phosphate regulation.
✕Less likely to help
People without PFBC or related brain phosphate disorders may not directly benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This project looks at how brain cells manage phosphate levels and how problems with XPR1 lead to the buildup of calcium phosphate in brain blood vessels, a condition linked to PFBC/Fahr’s syndrome. The team will explore how XPR1 exports phosphate, how InsP8 signals regulate this process, and how the gating mechanism affects brain health. They aim to map the precise biology behind PFBC to identify points where therapies could potentially prevent or slow calcifications and associated symptoms. The research may generate new biological insights that could guide future treatments for patients with brain calcifications.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could identify new targets to prevent or reduce brain calcifications and alleviate related neurological symptoms.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies linking XPR1 and phosphate regulation to PFBC have established a mechanistic basis for disease, with room for translation to therapies.
Where this research is happening
-
Sloan-Kettering Inst Can Research
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Diver, Melinda — Sloan-Kettering Inst Can Research
- Study coordinator: Diver, Melinda
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Understand how skeletal muscle nuclei specialize and arrange themselves for proper muscle function
A study to uncover how the hundreds of nuclei in skeletal muscle fibers acquire different roles and positions to keep muscles strong and healthy.
-
Genomic profiling and outcomes of cancers in World Trade Center-exposed survivors and responders
This project looks at the genetic makeup and real-world cancer outcomes in people exposed to the World Trade Center disaster to understand how their cancers behave and respond to treatments.
-
Meaning-Centered Psychotherapy for Mexican Patients with Advanced Cancer
A cancer center in Mexico will test a culturally adapted therapy to help Mexican patients with advanced cancer find meaning, peace, and purpose at the end of life.
-
High-specificity genome-scale cell-surface proteomics to find tumor targets
A cancer research project is trying to map all the proteins on the surface of ultra-rare sarcoma cells to find safe, targeted ways to treat them.
-
Priorities for testing and choosing combination therapies in rhabdoid tumors to guide clinical trials
A coordinated, multi-site effort will rigorously test promising drug combinations in rhabdoid tumors to identify the most promising options for future patient trials.
-
ecDNA in Cancer: Understanding and targeting circular DNA that drives tumor growth
A cancer-focused project to understand how extrachromosomal DNA helps tumors grow and resist treatment, and to develop new ways to target these mechanisms.
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.