# Repurposing Bacterial Mechanosensitive Channel as a Membrane Tension Biosensor - Diversity Supplement

> **NIH NIH R21** · UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR · 2020 · $42,037

## Abstract

Project Summary
We are requesting a Research Supplement to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research to
complement the parent R21 grant (1 R21 GM134157-01) entitled ‘Repurposing Bacterial
Mechanosensitive Channel as a Membrane Tension Biosensor’. The supplement funds are
proposed to support Grace Cai, who is a second year Ph.D. student in the Program of Applied
Physics at the University of Michigan. Grace has the potential to contribute significantly to the
overarching goal of the parent grant that seeks to develop a membrane tension biosensor for
studying mechanosensitive cell functions based on engineering a bacterial mechanosensitive
channel MscL. Grace is enthusiastic about contributing to the diversity of the University through
the various outreach/volunteer activities she participates in. As a first-generation college student
and a female student now enrolled in a physics program, Grace will serve as a role model for
other female students interested in pursuing physics and/or biophysics. Her perspective will be
valuable in an academic environment and will enrich our community. We have developed a plan
together for her research and career development as a scientist during this support period and
beyond. Since Grace comes from a physics background without having done research in
biology before, we have put in place several training activities that aim to broaden both her
technical knowledge and skills that together will help Grace becomes an independent
researcher. Grace will have an opportunity to present at a local meeting as well as at a national
conference. Grace will generate MscL constructs, transduce them into different cell lines, and
evaluate the expression and function of the engineered membrane tension biosensors. She has
recently learned a new micromanipulation device for increasing membrane tension and acquired
cell biology skills and will put both into practice. Grace’s contributions will advance the objective
of the 1 R21 GM134157-01 grant.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10045850
- **Project number:** 3R21GM134157-01S1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR
- **Principal Investigator:** Allen Po-Chih Liu
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $42,037
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2019-08-01 → 2021-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10045850

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10045850, Repurposing Bacterial Mechanosensitive Channel as a Membrane Tension Biosensor - Diversity Supplement (3R21GM134157-01S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-28 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10045850. Licensed CC0.

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