Tulane Biochemist Awarded $1.6M Grant to Advance Nanopore Medicine Research
Tulane researcher Bill Wimley, PhD, professor of biochemistry and molecular biology, has received a $1.6 million grant from the National Institute of General Medical Studies to study nanopore technology—tiny, molecule-sized pores that could one day deliver targeted medicines into cells. The project builds on Wimley’s work evolving melittin, a component of honeybee venom, into safer, more controllable peptides that only activate in acidic environments like those inside endosomes. By creating nanopores in a controlled way, these peptides could provide a pathway for large molecules to enter cells. The current grant focuses on uncovering the structural mechanisms behind nanopore formation through computer modeling and lab experiments, with future potential for groundbreaking medical applications.
