Elias Spiliotis, PhD
Elias Spiliotis, PhD, a professor in the Department of Cell Biology, has been awarded a $2.4 million grant from the NIH National Institute of General Medical Sciences for his research about the role of septin proteins in cells and its impact on disease pathogenesis. The five-year grant marks the continuation of funding for years 6-10 of this research.
Defects in the internal organization of cells and the transport mechanisms of their proteins and membranes underlie the pathogenesis of many human diseases including cancer, neurodegeneration (e.g., Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, ALS), brain injury and metabolic disorders. Dr. Spiliotis’ research program aims to advance knowledge of how transport within cells is spatially controlled by a unique family of proteins called septins, which associate with cytoskeletal polymers that serve as the roadways for the transport of proteins to their location of function.
The central hypothesis of this research program is that septins guide spatially protein traffic determining which proteins get on which cytoskeletal lanes for reaching their destination accurately and efficiently. The proposed work aims to map septins in the cytoskeletal roadways and protein trafficking routes of cells and determine the precise mechanisms by which septins regulate intracellular transport. The work will also devise new methods for rapid ablation of septin expression, which will be useful in resolving the functional roles of septins.
Dr. Spiliotis’ research aims to advance basic knowledge of cell biology, which in the long-term will be used to design better treatments that can reverse or slow down disease and/or to regenerate defective cells and tissues. New pharmacological advances in septin biology are proving clinically beneficial for a number of diseases including Alzheimer’s and cancer.
Learn more about the Spiliotis Lab at UVA.
Filed Under: Research