How brain immune cells (microglia) are controlled by long non-coding RNAs
Official title: Regulation of the Microglial Neuroimmune Response by Long Non-Coding RNAs
Funded at Creighton University · NIH-11292326 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are looking at whether long non-coding RNAs control microglia activity that leads to brain inflammation in conditions like multiple sclerosis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R15 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Creighton University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Omaha, United States) |
| Project start | July 14, 2022 |
| Project end | March 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $549,932 |
| NIH project number | 2R15AI156879-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11292326 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with multiple sclerosis or other neuroinflammatory disorders would be the most relevant group for future sample donation or follow-up clinical studies based on this work.
✕Less likely to help
People without neuroinflammatory or demyelinating conditions are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this specific basic-science project.
What this research studies
This work focuses on microglia, the immune cells in the brain that can protect neurons or cause inflammation and damage. The team uses whole-transcriptome analyses to find long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) that change when microglia become proinflammatory. In laboratory microglial cell models they silence candidate lncRNAs to see if that reduces proinflammatory gene activity. The goal is to understand molecular switches that might be targeted by future therapies for neuroinflammatory diseases such as MS.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could point to new molecular targets to reduce harmful brain inflammation and slow neurodegeneration in diseases like multiple sclerosis.
How similar studies have gone: Prior laboratory studies have shown that silencing some lncRNAs in microglial or macrophage models lowers proinflammatory gene expression, but translating those findings to human treatments has not yet been achieved.
Where this research is happening
-
Creighton University
Omaha, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Shibata, Annemarie — Creighton University
- Study coordinator: Shibata, Annemarie
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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.