Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The University of California, San Diego received a $440,000 Project Grant from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) under the Biomedical Research and Research Training program (CFDA 93.859), with an award date of July 1, 2026 and completion deadline of February 28, 2031. The research focuses on developing multiscale biophysical computational tools and conducting molecular dynamics simulations to elucidate how lipid-protein interactions and actin-membrane interactions regulate mitochondrial ultrastructure and network organization. Specifically, the research investigates the role of cardiolipin in regulating ATP synthase dimerization and membrane curvature generation, and examines how cardiolipin externalization influences dynamin-related protein 1 activity and mitochondrial fission.

The deliverables include coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations, free-energy computational methods, and mesh-based membrane mechanics simulations that integrate molecular-level details into organelle-scale membrane shaping models. Through this research, the project aims to clarify the biophysical principles underlying lipid-protein molecular interplay that controls mitochondrial morphology and energy production efficiency, with implications for understanding disease mechanisms related to mitochondrial dysfunction and disrupted energy generation.