Gene regulation and how variations influence complex traits
Official title: Gene regulation and the genetic basis of complex traits
Funded at University of Kansas Lawrence · NIH-11333028 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Scientists are studying how tiny genetic differences affect how traits develop and how this plays out in human health, especially in natural populations.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Kansas Lawrence NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Lawrence, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $376,215 |
| NIH project number | 5R35GM154966-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11333028 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals or populations where natural variation in gene regulation and complex traits can be studied, including diverse human populations.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without exposure to natural regulatory variation influencing traits in the studied contexts may see limited direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project aims to map how non-coding genetic variants influence gene regulation and, in turn, complex traits related to survival and reproduction in natural populations. It will combine tissue-specific gene regulation assays, population surveys, and innovative sequencing plus computational methods to link regulatory variants to traits. The work is rooted in real-world biology and could illuminate mechanisms that contribute to human disease through gene regulation. The investigators plan to overcome past limitations by increasing power to detect small-effect variants and by directly connecting variants under selection to observable traits.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Understanding gene-regulation variants could improve our knowledge of human diseases linked to regulatory changes and inform future therapeutic strategies.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies show that linking regulatory variants to complex traits is challenging but feasible with integrated approaches; this project aims to extend that work with new data and methods.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Kansas Lawrence
Lawrence, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mack, Katya — University of Kansas Lawrence
- Study coordinator: Mack, Katya
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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.