Exploring how jumping genes affect health and disease in vertebrates

Understanding the regulation and impact of transposable elements in Vertebrate health and disease

NIH-funded research University of Southern California · NIH-10879033

This study is looking at how special pieces of DNA, called "jumping genes," affect health and diseases like cancer and brain disorders, and it's for anyone interested in understanding how our genes work and how they can sometimes go wrong.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Southern California NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Los Angeles, UNITED STATES)
Project IDNIH-10879033 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research investigates the role of transposable elements, often referred to as 'jumping genes', in regulating genomic functions that impact vertebrate health and disease. By examining how these elements are controlled throughout life in various tissues, the study aims to uncover their influence on conditions such as cancer and neurodegeneration. The research employs advanced techniques, including big data analysis and machine learning, to analyze genomic patterns and their variations between sexes. This work seeks to provide insights into the mechanisms that maintain cellular health and how disruptions can lead to disease.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with a genetic predisposition to diseases influenced by genomic regulation, particularly those over 21 years old.

Not a fit: Patients with conditions unrelated to genomic regulation or those under 21 years old may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new strategies for preventing or treating diseases linked to genomic regulation, potentially improving health outcomes for patients.

How similar studies have performed: While the study of transposable elements is gaining attention, this specific approach to understanding their regulation in relation to health and disease is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested.

Where this research is happening

Los Angeles, UNITED STATES

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions Cancers
Last reviewed 2026-06-10 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.