Understanding protein structures using advanced techniques
Official title: Molecular Structure Determination by Mass Spectrometry and Computational Modeling
Funded at University of Mississippi · NIH-10916503 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how proteins change and interact with their surroundings, using a special method to get a closer look, which could help us better understand how proteins work in the body and improve the information we have about them.
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 | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $478,138 |
| NIH project number | 5R01GM127267-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-10916503 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with conditions related to protein misfolding or dysfunction, such as certain autoimmune diseases or genetic disorders.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with conditions unrelated to protein structure or function may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on improving our understanding of protein structures, which are crucial for many biological processes. It employs a technique called hydroxyl radical protein footprinting (HRPF) to analyze how proteins interact with their environment at a detailed level. By measuring how proteins change over time and under different conditions, the research aims to create more accurate models of protein structures that are currently underrepresented in databases. This could lead to new insights into how proteins function and interact within the body.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better-targeted therapies and treatments for diseases related to protein dysfunction.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown success using similar techniques to study protein structures, indicating a promising avenue for further exploration.
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
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Science-based authentication, safety, and validation of botanical ingredients
This NIH grant focuses on making sure botanical ingredients used in dietary supplements are authentic, safe, and accurately labeled for consumers.
-
Glycopeptide Nanomaterials That Assemble at Disease Sites Triggered by Oxidative Signals
A new type of tiny, glycan-guided nanomaterial forms right at diseased tissue when exposed to disease-related reactive oxygen species, aiming to deliver drugs more precisely and safely.
-
High-precision glycan detectors using AI to spot disease-linked sugars
A grant to develop AI-guided, highly specific tools that detect disease-related glycans (áGal and NeuGc) in human samples to improve diagnostics and safe biologic therapies.
-
How brevican changes nerve cell excitability in the brain
A small NIH grant is exploring how a brain protein called brevican, and its sugar tags, affect nerve cell activity in a specific brain area tied to fear and stress.
-
Sulfated molecules in the back of the eye and how they shape myopia progression
This grant studies how losing certain building blocks in the eye’s outer layer may affect eye shape and the worsening of nearsightedness in pig eyes to model human disease.
-
Gene networks behind alcohol tolerance in fruit flies
A short, patient-friendly look at how brain signaling related to alcohol tolerance might be reversed or treated.
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.