Dr. Bae- NSF recommendation for funding
January 09, 2023
On January 9, 2023, the Director of the Biomechanics and Mechanobiology program in the Civil, Mechanical, and Manufacturing Innovation Division at the National Science Foundation, recommended funding Dr. Chilman Bae’s Engineering Research Initiation proposal to investigate the role of a channel modulator in inflammations. Piezo (Piezo1 and Piezo2) mechanosensitive channels play important roles in diverse physiological processes, including hearing, touching, and inflammation. This project aims to investigate the roles of the new Piezo1 modulator on inflammation. This aim will be achieved by: i) identifying and characterizing a novel Piezo1 activator, which will generate a fundamental platform for future mechanosensitive channel studies; ii) developing a capacitance clamp technique that is critical to study the biomechanical properties of mechanosensitive channels and providing an electrophysiological platform for studying ion channels; iii) developing a cultured astrocyte cell model for inflammation studies; and iv) providing the underlying mechanism of inflammation. The major outcome of this project will be the discovery of a novel therapeutic strategy for treating inflammation by targeting Piezo1. This project will promote research and education in neuroscience, developmental biology, and immunology.