Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The National Science Foundation's Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences awarded Massachusetts General Hospital $298,662 on June 15, 2026, under the Biological Sciences program (CFDA 47.074) to conduct collaborative research on long-range signaling and computation in microtubules. The research project, scheduled for completion by May 31, 2029, will deliver fundamental scientific findings and methodologies challenging the conventional understanding of microtubules as purely structural cellular components. Through an integrated interdisciplinary research approach combining computational modeling with single-molecule and cellular-level experiments, the project will investigate whether microtubule polymers function as responsive sensors capable of transmitting and amplifying conformational signals throughout individual cells.

The research deliverables are expected to produce new knowledge regarding cellular communication mechanisms with significant translational implications across multiple scientific disciplines. Anticipated outputs include mechanistic insights applicable to developmental biology and mechanical signaling at the biopolymer scale; potential extensions of neuronal communication models incorporating microtubule networks in axons; novel approaches to address chemotherapeutic drug resistance in cancer biology; and bioengineering applications demonstrating computational capabilities of microtubule structures in response to multiple inputs. Results will establish a new research field focused on signaling and cellular communication pathways mediated by microtubules, fundamentally expanding understanding of intracellular communication beyond conventional paradigms.