Federal Grant Award Summary

The Seattle Institute for Biomedical and Clinical Research has received a $374,550 Project Grant from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) under the Biomedical Research and Research Training program (CFDA 93.859), effective June 1, 2026 through March 31, 2031. This award supports fundamental research investigating the molecular regulation of endothelial glycocalyx-mediated transcytosis—specifically, the mechanisms by which the carbohydrate-rich glycocalyx layer on blood vessel surfaces regulates the binding, uptake, and transport of substances, including chemokines and viral proteins, across endothelial barriers. The research will employ radiochemical-based assays to measure blood-to-tissue transport rates, vascular binding, and biodistribution parameters in both in vivo and in vitro models, with particular emphasis on characterizing heparan sulfate (HS) components and their tissue-specific regulatory functions.

The project builds upon five years of prior work elucidating glycocalyx-mediated transendothelial transport processes and will extend this research to identify the molecular machinery underlying these transport mechanisms across different tissues and vascular zones. The deliverables include advanced cell-based and in vivo assays capable of measuring protein transport dynamics, comprehensive characterization of HS-dependent transport components, and fundamental knowledge contributions to understanding endothelial barrier function—outcomes designed to establish foundational understanding for future advances in diagnostics and therapeutic development.