Understanding why cells in the same body behave differently
New approaches for investigating the causes and consequences of cellular heterogeneity
['FUNDING_OTHER'] · UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON · NIH-11263726
This program builds lab methods to find why genetically similar cells or proteins act differently, which could help people with cancer or genetic conditions.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_OTHER'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (SEATTLE, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11263726 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
From a patient's point of view, the team is building and improving lab techniques that measure differences between individual cells and between many genetic variants of a protein. They use high-throughput experiments (like testing thousands of genetic changes at once) and look at how non-genetic factors cause cells to behave differently. The work connects what happens at the protein and cell level to issues like tumor behavior and how people respond to drugs. Results are shared with other labs so findings can be used more quickly to interpret genetic tests and guide future clinical work.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with cancer, inherited genetic variants, or those willing to donate tissue or genetic data for lab research would be the most relevant participants or contributors.
Not a fit: People whose conditions are unrelated to genetics or cellular-level mechanisms, or who are not willing to share samples or data, are unlikely to benefit directly in the short term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could make genetic test results and predictions about tumor behavior more accurate, helping personalize treatments.
How similar studies have performed: Related methods such as deep mutational scanning have already helped researchers interpret many genetic variants, but applying similar approaches to non-genetic cell-to-cell differences is a newer direction.
Where this research is happening
SEATTLE, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON — SEATTLE, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: FOWLER, DOUGLAS M — UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
- Study coordinator: FOWLER, DOUGLAS M
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 below.