DNA demethylation biomarkers in urine and biofluids for autoimmune diseases
Official title: Mass Spectrometry-Based Study of DNA Demethylation from an Excretion Perspective
Funded at Jackson State University · NIH-11424485 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study at Jackson State University will look for DNA demethylation markers in body fluids that could help diagnose and monitor autoimmune diseases.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Jackson State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Jackson, United States) |
| Project start | June 15, 2022 |
| Project end | May 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $139,000 |
| NIH project number | 2R16GM145223-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11424485 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals diagnosed with autoimmune diseases who can provide urine or blood samples for biomarker analysis.
✕Less likely to help
People without autoimmune diseases or those unable to provide biofluid samples may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
Researchers will use mass spectrometry to measure DNA demethylation products that are excreted into urine and other biofluids. The work builds on a prior PCR-free method to quantify DNA methylation-related compounds and adapts it to capture both free molecules and those bound to DNA fragments. This could yield non-invasive biomarkers to track disease activity and treatment response in people with autoimmune conditions. The project emphasizes developing robust analytical tools and validating biomarker measurements in accessible patient samples.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients with autoimmune diseases may have a non-invasive way to monitor disease activity and treatment effects.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary work using mass spectrometry has shown promise for nucleic acid–related biomarkers, but this project extends to DNA demethylation markers in excreted samples.
Where this research is happening
-
Jackson State University
Jackson, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Liu, Yiming — Jackson State University
- Study coordinator: Liu, Yiming
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.