Salubrinal is primarily used in research to modulate cellular stress responses, particularly by inhibiting the dephosphorylation of eukaryotic initiation factor 2 alpha (eIF2α). This action helps maintain protein synthesis control under stress conditions, making it a valuable tool for studying endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and the unfolded protein response (UPR). It has been investigated for its potential to protect cells from apoptosis in models of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, where ER stress plays a role in disease progression. Additionally, Salubrinal shows selective toxicity toward certain cancer cells by exacerbating stress pathways, suggesting possible applications in oncology research. It is also used to explore mechanisms in viral infection, as some viruses manipulate eIF2α phosphorylation to support replication. Due to its cell-permeable nature and specific mechanism, it remains a key compound in probing stress-related signaling pathways in cellular and molecular biology.