# Gardner Lab MIRA Proposal: Microtubules and Mitosis

> **NIH NIH R35** · UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA · 2024 · $434,000

## Abstract

The Gardner Laboratory uses a combination experimental and computational approach to
dissect molecular mechanisms for how microtubule lengths are regulated inside of cells, and for
how forces within the mitotic spindle act to ensure proper chromosome segregation during
mitosis. We use biophysical computational modeling to better integrate and understand our
experimental observations, make new experimental predictions, and to test whether our
proposed cellular mechanisms are physically reasonable. Overall, we are a cellular biophysics
laboratory that combines cell biology tools with biophysical methods to shed new light on the
regulation of microtubule dynamics, and to dissect forces and their consequences in mitosis.
Achieving the goals described in this application will provide mechanistic insights into how
molecular-scale changes in microtubule structure could regulate cellular-scale changes in
microtubule-associated protein localization and binding, as well as how controlled mitotic forces
could act to protect genome integrity during mitosis. In particular, this application will advance
our understanding of: 1) how microtubule structure can alter protein binding, and vice versa, 2)
how the cell reads out and responds to nuanced tension signaling during mitosis, and 3) how
controlled anaphase forces could act to protect genome integrity during anaphase.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10760660
- **Project number:** 2R35GM126974-06
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
- **Principal Investigator:** Melissa Gardner
- **Activity code:** R35 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $434,000
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 2018-05-01 → 2029-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10760660

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10760660, Gardner Lab MIRA Proposal: Microtubules and Mitosis (2R35GM126974-06). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-28 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10760660. Licensed CC0.

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