Controlling Cell Decisions for Better Treatments
Official title: Modulating Stochastic Gene Expression for Cell-fate Control and Therapeutics
Funded at Autonomous Therapeutics, INC. · NIH-11049182 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This work explores how tiny, random changes in our cells' genes affect important cell decisions, aiming to find new ways to treat conditions like HIV and cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R37 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Autonomous Therapeutics, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Silver Spring, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2014 |
| Project end | February 28, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $1,927,847 |
| NIH project number | 5R37AI109593-11 |
| Project ID | NIH-11049182 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This foundational work is not directly recruiting patients but aims to benefit those living with conditions like HIV or various cancers in the future.
✕Less likely to help
Patients seeking immediate, direct treatment options would not find this early-stage research directly beneficial.
What this research studies
Our cells make many important decisions, like whether to become a certain type of cell or how to respond to a virus. Sometimes, small, unpredictable changes in gene activity can influence these decisions, creating challenges for treatments. This project looks closely at these tiny fluctuations in gene expression to understand how they work in human cells. By understanding these mechanisms, we hope to find new ways to guide cell behavior more precisely. This could help us overcome treatment barriers in diseases where cells behave unpredictably.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new therapies that precisely control cell behavior, potentially improving treatments for HIV, cancer, and stem cell-related conditions.
How similar studies have gone: This project builds on the team's previous discoveries showing that gene expression noise can be harnessed for therapeutic effect, suggesting a novel yet promising approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Autonomous Therapeutics, INC.
Silver Spring, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Weinberger, Leor S — Autonomous Therapeutics, INC.
- Study coordinator: Weinberger, Leor S
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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.