Understanding protein structures with native ion mobility-mass spectrometry
Official title: Quantitative Determination of High-Order Protein Structure with Native Ion Mobility-Mass Spectrometry and Computational Chemistry
Funded at University of Oregon · NIH-11402732 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aims to better map the shapes of proteins and their complexes using a specialized mass spectrometry approach to support advances in health and medicine.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Oregon NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Eugene, United States) |
| Project start | September 20, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $243,728 |
| NIH project number | 5R01GM144507-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11402732 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with diseases linked to protein misfolding, membrane proteins, or biomolecular dysfunction where structural insights could guide treatment.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not connected to conditions involving protein structure or membrane proteins may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project uses native ion mobility-mass spectrometry (IM-MS) to study how biomolecules fold and interact, especially in challenging samples like membrane proteins. It combines advanced sample prep and data analysis to keep proteins intact while measuring their size and shape. The goal is to provide clearer pictures of biomolecular structures that matter in health and disease, complementing traditional methods. The work will involve collaborations to apply these techniques to biologically relevant systems and to interpret the results through computational chemistry.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could benefit from sharper molecular targets and a better understanding of disease mechanisms, potentially guiding new therapies.
How similar studies have gone: Previous methods provided atomic-level structures for many proteins, but native IM-MS offers complementary insights for difficult samples.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Oregon
Eugene, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Prell, James Stephen — University of Oregon
- Study coordinator: Prell, James Stephen
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Synthetic biology toolkit for an animal model (Caenorhabditis elegans)
A new set of customizable genetic controls in a worm model aimed at understanding how complex cellular networks affect health, using synthetic biology tools.
-
How COVID school closures affected kids with or at risk for developmental differences
This NIH grant follows children aged 4 to 15 and their families to see how pandemic school closures impacted emotional well-being and parenting over three years.
-
Hybrid Effectiveness-Implementation Trial of an Executive Functioning Intervention for Children's Mental Health Services
A funded project will test an executive functioning program to improve mental health services for autistic children and those with ADHD.
-
Modulating protein delivery to help bone repair with engineered biomaterials
A new approach uses specially designed biomaterials that hold and release multiple proteins in a controlled way to improve bone healing.
-
Affinity-based biomaterials to guide protein delivery for bone healing
A research team is testing new biomaterials that can release multiple healing proteins in a controlled way to improve bone repair.
-
How COVID school closures affected children with or at risk for disabilities and their families
This project follows children and their caregivers over time to understand how pandemic-related school closures changed children's behavior and parents' wellbeing.
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.