Genes and cell destiny: how our genome shapes early human development and cancer risk
Official title: Genomic control of gene regulatory networks governing early human lineage decisions
Funded at Sloan-Kettering Inst Can Research · NIH-11508474 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study using human stem cells and gene-editing to map how tiny genetic changes influence which cell types develop, with potential implications for cancer biology.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Sloan-Kettering Inst Can Research NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | August 19, 2021 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,293,760 |
| NIH project number | 3U01HG012051-05S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11508474 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with cancers or developmental disorders linked to early lineage decisions may indirectly benefit from advances in this research.
✕Less likely to help
Healthy individuals without conditions related to these developmental pathways may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This research will use CRISPR/Cas tools and computational models to understand how groups of genetic variants control gene networks that decide whether stem cells become endoderm, mesoderm, or neuroectoderm. By studying human embryonic stem cells, scientists aim to see how these regulatory networks steer early cell fate and how disruptions might relate to cancer. The project combines genome-scale screens, machine learning, and integrative analysis to build a predictive picture of cell state transitions. The work could illuminate targets for preventing malignant transformations linked to developmental pathways.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Better insight into how core gene networks control cell fate could inform cancer biology and reveal new therapeutic targets.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies using CRISPR screens and stem cell models have shown that gene networks influence cell fate, supporting the feasibility of this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Sloan-Kettering Inst Can Research
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Huangfu, Danwei — Sloan-Kettering Inst Can Research
- Study coordinator: Huangfu, Danwei
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.