3D gene switches in leukemia and lymphoma
Official title: Mapping and targeting 3D regulatory elements in leukemia and lymphoma
Funded at New York University School of Medicine · NIH-11248036 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers will map and try to block 3D gene-control hubs that help T-cell leukemia and lymphoma cells grow, aiming to find new ways to help people with these cancers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New York University School of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | December 13, 2024 |
| Project end | November 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $917,344 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA298153-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11248036 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be people diagnosed with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia or related T-cell lymphomas who can provide tumor samples or consent to genomic/epigenetic testing.
✕Less likely to help
People without T-cell leukemias or those seeking immediate treatment may not directly benefit, since this is early-stage lab-focused research rather than a treatment trial.
What this research studies
The team will study how DNA folds in leukemia and lymphoma cells to find spots, or "hubs," that control important cancer genes. They will use advanced lab methods to map connections between enhancers and promoters and to look at epigenetic marks and long noncoding RNAs that shape these hubs. The work will test ways to disrupt these hubs in cell models and in tumor samples to see how cancer cells respond. Findings could point to new targets or markers for future treatments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new targeted treatments or biomarkers to help predict and improve outcomes for people with T-cell leukemias and some lymphomas.
How similar studies have gone: Previous laboratory studies have mapped 3D genome features and shown that disrupting some regulatory hubs can change cancer cell behavior, but therapies targeting these structures remain experimental.
Where this research is happening
-
New York University School of Medicine
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Aifantis, Iannis — New York University School of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Aifantis, Iannis
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.