What controls the cell nucleus's size and shape
Official title: Mechanisms of nuclear morphology regulation
Funded at University of Wyoming · NIH-11248821 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are learning how the cell nucleus keeps its size and shape to help people with cancers where nuclei look abnormal.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Wyoming NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Laramie, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2020 |
| Project end | December 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $390,150 |
| NIH project number | 5R35GM134885-08 |
| Project ID | NIH-11248821 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with cancers characterized by abnormal nuclear morphology or individuals willing to donate tissue for generation of iPSCs would be the most relevant participants.
✕Less likely to help
Patients looking for immediate clinical treatment are unlikely to receive direct benefit because the project is basic laboratory research.
What this research studies
This project looks at why the nucleus—the central compartment inside cells—changes shape in many cancers and what causes those changes. The team uses a mix of lab methods, including egg-extract systems, microfluidic encapsulation, studies in frog and sea urchin embryos, genetics in the worm C. elegans, and experiments with human induced pluripotent stem cells derived from donated tissue. They will study normal and stress conditions and follow several lines of inquiry to identify molecular and physical mechanisms that set nuclear size and shape. The goal is to determine whether nuclear changes drive disease or are a consequence, which could inform future diagnostics or therapies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could improve how nuclear changes are used in cancer diagnosis and suggest new targets for therapy.
How similar studies have gone: Related basic-science studies, including prior work from this lab, have uncovered factors controlling nuclear size in model systems, but translation to patient care is still early.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Wyoming
Laramie, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Levy, Daniel Leon — University of Wyoming
- Study coordinator: Levy, Daniel Leon
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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.