# Tools and Methods for the Elucidation of Fatty Acid Amide Cell Signaling Pathways

> **NIH NIH R21** · UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA · 2022 · $176,624

## Abstract

Abstract:
Cell signaling is one of the most fundamental processes that controls human health, and yet the mechanics of
this intricate system is largely unappreciated. This is stunning because the primary agents for this system,
membrane receptors, are known to account for approximately 1/3 of all approved human drugs. Often, the
receptors themselves are known before the discovery of their endogenous ligands.
In this proposal, we detail a systematic method for the identification of the targets of fatty acid amides, a highly
regulated class of molecules known to engage in at least two signaling processes. The bulk of the other
members of this class of compounds have never been paired with their receptors, and uncovering this
information has tremendous potential for identifying new therapeutic targets and improving drug discovery
efforts by revealing potentially undesirable off-target candidates.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10310497
- **Project number:** 5R21GM140390-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA
- **Principal Investigator:** James Leahy
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $176,624
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-12-05 → 2023-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10310497

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10310497, Tools and Methods for the Elucidation of Fatty Acid Amide Cell Signaling Pathways (5R21GM140390-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-28 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10310497. Licensed CC0.

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