Directed evolution platform to study RNA methylation in cancer
Official title: Development of A Directed Evolution Platform for RNA Methyltransferases.
Funded at Boston College · NIH-11377531 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new tool will be developed to precisely add RNA m6A marks to specific messages in cancer cells to understand how these marks influence tumor growth and response to treatment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston College NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chestnut Hill, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $217,388 |
| NIH project number | 5R61CA291202-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11377531 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with breast cancer or acute myeloid leukemia may indirectly benefit through future therapies informed by this research.
✕Less likely to help
People not affected by breast cancer or AML may not directly benefit from this project.
What this research studies
This project aims to create a platform that can place m6A modifications at chosen RNA targets, allowing researchers to pinpoint how these edits affect cancer-related genes. By avoiding broad changes, the approach seeks to reveal direct roles of m6A in cancers such as breast cancer and AML. The work involves developing methods and testing them in cancer-relevant cell systems to map how specific RNA edits influence tumor biology and drug resistance. The goal is to provide a clearer picture of which RNA transcripts drive cancer progression and could become targets for therapy.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this platform could help identify precise RNA targets to guide new cancer treatments.
How similar studies have gone: Similar epitranscriptomic approaches have yielded insights, but this platform aims for targeted, gene-specific edits to clarify causative roles.
Where this research is happening
-
Boston College
Chestnut Hill, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zhou, Huiqing — Boston College
- Study coordinator: Zhou, Huiqing
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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.