Center for Genome Editing and Recording: Next-Generation Genome and Epigenome Tools for Disease
Official title: Center for Genomic Editing and Recording: Development and Application of Next-Generation Genome and Epigenome Editing Methods to Advance the Study and Treatment of Human Disease
Funded at Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Res · NIH-11412455 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A research center is developing ultra-precise genome and epigenome editing tools to better understand and treat human diseases, with a focus on how genetic variants influence disease and how to safely modify them.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Res NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cambridge, United States) |
| Project start | August 8, 2017 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $2,450,002 |
| NIH project number | 5RM1HG009490-10 |
| Project ID | NIH-11412455 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with diseases linked to genetic or epigenetic regulation where future therapies could target specific genome or epigenome regions.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose conditions are not related to genome or epigenome editing or who do not have access to future therapies may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project aims to create new technologies that can detect, alter, and record genome information in individual cells and tissues without causing DNA breaks. It relies on programmable DNA-binding proteins like CRISPR-Cas variants, zinc fingers, and TALEs to achieve precise changes in the genome and epigenome, including mitochondrial DNA and regulatory elements. The goal is to enable high-accuracy editing and to capture the functional effects of variants to guide personalized medicine. The work includes developing methods to control gene expression and to record cellular history while avoiding DNA toxicity and complicated repair pathways.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could benefit from more precise gene therapies and better understanding of how specific genetic changes impact disease, leading to safer and more effective treatments.
How similar studies have gone: Previous genome-editing efforts have shown promise, but this project aims to advance accuracy and safety to enable clinical applications.
Where this research is happening
-
Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Res
Cambridge, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Weissman, Jonathan S. — Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Res
- Study coordinator: Weissman, Jonathan S.
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.