# Exploring mechanisms of aquaporin-mediated cell migration

> **NIH NIH R35** · UNIV OF MARYLAND, COLLEGE PARK · 2021 · $379,623

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
The PI’s lab explores the role of mechanical forces in physiological and pathological phenomena. To accomplish
this goal, they engineer and probe in vitro models of multi-scale biological systems using bioengineering tools
such as microfabricated devices; novel combinations of cells, molecular biology techniques, and cell mechanics
tools; and custom quantitative image processing software. They currently use this framework in three main lab
focus areas: (1) Exploring the mechanobiology of the vascular endothelium in the context of health, disease,
and drug delivery; (2) Probing cell-cell interactions at the blood-brain barrier (BBB) in health and disease; and
(3) Understanding basic mechanisms of cell adhesion, migration, and division using engineered cellular
microenvironments and model cell systems. Over the next 5 years, the PI’s goal is to establish an NIGMS-MIRA-
funded research program that explores critical, outstanding questions about how aquaporins (water channels on
the cell membrane) regulate cell migration.
The PI’s proposed MIRA research program is motivated by strong phenomonological evidence for the role of
aquaporins (AQPs) in cell migration, coupled with a lack of mechanistic links between AQP expression or function
and cell behavior, which leaves open critical questions about how AQPs contribute to these physiological
phenomena. Hence, the proposed work seeks to explore numerous questions related to fundamental aspects
about the regulation of cell migration, with questions centering around whether and how AQPs modulate cell
polarization, cell biomechanical properties, migration phenotypes, and response to the microenvironment. The
PI’s lab is uniquely positioned to address these outstanding questions using an integrated experimental and
theoretical approach, by incorporating our established techniques in cell migration, cell mechanobiology and
biomechanics, live cell imaging, molecular biology, microfabrication and microenvironment engineering, and
quantitative analysis.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10275594
- **Project number:** 1R35GM142838-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIV OF MARYLAND, COLLEGE PARK
- **Principal Investigator:** Kimberly Stroka
- **Activity code:** R35 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $379,623
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-08-01 → 2026-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10275594

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10275594, Exploring mechanisms of aquaporin-mediated cell migration (1R35GM142838-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10275594. Licensed CC0.

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