Lysosomes and Endosomal Pathways in Health and Disease Scientific Interest Group

The NIH Lysosomes and Endosomal Pathways in Health and Disease Scientific Interest Group (SIG) fosters an interdisciplinary community of investigators, staff scientists, fellows, trainees, and research staff across the NIH Intramural Research Program who study lysosome biology, endosomal trafficking, endocytosis, autophagy, membrane trafficking, lysosomal signaling, and related pathways in human health and disease. The SIG promotes interactions across NIH Institutes and Centers through monthly seminars, trainee presentations, networking events, and scientific discussions. Its mission is to stimulate interdisciplinary collaborations, facilitate the exchange of technologies and ideas, support career development, and accelerate the translation of fundamental discoveries into improved diagnosis and therapies.

Over the past two decades, lysosomes have evolved from being viewed as simple degradative organelles to being recognized as central regulators of cellular homeostasis. They integrate nutrient sensing, signaling, ion transport, membrane repair, endocytosis, secretion, immunity, metabolism, and protein quality control. Increasing evidence demonstrates that dysfunction of the endolysosomal system contributes directly to protein aggregation, lipid accumulation, chronic inflammation, impaired autophagy, aging, and numerous human diseases. The endolysosomal system has emerged as a common mechanistic denominator linking diseases that were once considered biologically distinct, making it one of the most rapidly expanding areas of biomedical research. Recent studies further identify lysosomes as active drivers of aging biology and promising therapeutic targets for multiple diseases.

Cancer, neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, cardiometabolic disorders, kidney disease, musculoskeletal diseases, immune dysfunction, and approximately 50 lysosomal storage disorders affect millions of Americans and impose an enormous medical and economic burden. Because lysosomal dysfunction is increasingly recognized as a shared mechanism underlying these diverse conditions, advances in endolysosomal biology have the potential to transform multiple fields of medicine simultaneously.

The NIH IRP is uniquely positioned to lead this effort because investigators across numerous Institutes and Centers possess complementary expertise spanning neuroscience, cancer biology, immunology, rare diseases, cardiovascular biology, nephrology, metabolism, infectious diseases, genetics, and cell biology. Bringing these scientific communities together will foster new interdisciplinary collaborations, promote the exchange of innovative technologies and experimental approaches, and accelerate translation from mechanistic discovery to clinical application. The proposed monthly seminar series will provide an important platform for fellows, staff scientists, and research staff to present their work, receive feedback, expand their professional networks, and establish collaborations across Institutes.

Our long-term vision is to establish an NIH-wide collaborative network centered on lysosomes and endosomal pathways in health and disease. By promoting scientific exchange, interdisciplinary collaboration, technology sharing, and career development, the SIG will accelerate discoveries that improve human health and facilitate the development of new therapeutic strategies for diseases in which endolysosomal dysfunction plays a central role.

Steering Committee Chairs