How cells control telomere length
Molecular Mechanisms of Telomere Length Homeostasis
This project looks at the proteins that keep chromosome ends (telomeres) at the right length and how that affects cancer and premature aging.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California-Irvine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Irvine, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11320823 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You should know this is laboratory research that aims to understand how a protein complex called shelterin and the enzyme telomerase work together to set telomere length. Researchers will use biochemical tests and high-resolution structural methods to see how these proteins assemble and interact at atomic detail. They will also study how changes in these components affect telomere maintenance and cell proliferation. The work is focused on molecular mechanisms that underlie cancer growth and some premature aging disorders.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This is basic laboratory research and does not enroll patients, though people with cancers or telomere-related premature aging syndromes could be candidates for future clinical efforts based on these findings.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate treatments are unlikely to benefit directly from this project because it focuses on basic molecular mechanisms rather than clinical therapies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could point to new ways to target telomere maintenance in cancer or to treat disorders caused by short telomeres.
How similar studies have performed: Previous biochemical and structural studies have clarified components of telomere biology and the team has produced atomic-level views, but translating these insights into therapies remains early-stage.
Where this research is happening
Irvine, United States
- University of California-Irvine — Irvine, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Qiao, Feng — University of California-Irvine
- Study coordinator: Qiao, Feng
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 below.