Better way to find DNA changes in individual cells
Hybrid approach for comprehensive mutation detection in a cell
They are creating a combined cell-growing and DNA-amplifying method to more accurately find genetic changes in single cells from human tissues.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Mayo Clinic Rochester NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Rochester, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11413449 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project develops a two-step lab method that first grows a single cell into a tiny colony of 2–50 cells and then amplifies the DNA so there is enough material for full genome sequencing. By limiting how much cells are grown and combining that with whole-genome amplification, the team aims to reduce errors that normally appear when sequencing one cell. They will also create a way to store tissue so cells keep the ability to grow later, which helps build tissue banks for future testing. The work uses human tissues (like biopsies, bone marrow, and surgical samples) and sequencing technologies at Mayo Clinic Rochester.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are people who can donate tissue samples (biopsy, surgical tissue, or bone marrow) or join a tissue bank, especially if their condition may involve somatic mutations such as cancer or mosaic genetic disorders.
Not a fit: People who cannot or do not want to provide tissue samples, or those seeking immediate treatment instead of research participation, are unlikely to benefit directly from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could let doctors and researchers find true genetic changes in single cells across many tissues, improving diagnosis and understanding of diseases caused by mosaic mutations.
How similar studies have performed: Previous single-cell cloning and whole-genome amplification techniques have worked but have trade-offs—cloning limits tissues and WGA adds errors—so this hybrid approach is novel and aims to combine the best of both.
Where this research is happening
Rochester, United States
- Mayo Clinic Rochester — Rochester, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Abyzov, Alexej — Mayo Clinic Rochester
- Study coordinator: Abyzov, Alexej
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 below.