How chromatin loops are built and kept steady inside living cells
Official title: The molecular determinants that regulate Cohesin-mediated loop extrusion and stability in vivo
Funded at Salk Institute for Biological Studies · NIH-11450694 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project studies how the DNA packaging proteins CTCF and Cohesin shape 3D genome structure inside living cells and how loops are formed and maintained.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Salk Institute for Biological Studies NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | July 10, 2026 |
| Project end | March 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $625,589 |
| NIH project number | 1R01GM158884-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11450694 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals whose conditions involve gene regulation problems or genome instability, potentially translating to future clinical insights.
✕Less likely to help
Participants without diseases related to genome organization or chromatin dynamics may not benefit directly.
What this research studies
Researchers will investigate how loop extrusion happens in real cells by looking at Cohesin and CTCF in living organisms. They will use cellular models to monitor loop dynamics and identify factors that regulate loop formation and stability. The findings could reveal how genome organization influences gene expression and DNA repair in humans.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Understanding loop dynamics could lead to new ideas for treating diseases linked to genome organization and gene misregulation.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work has shown loop extrusion concepts in vitro; this project aims to confirm and extend the understanding in living cells.
Where this research is happening
-
Salk Institute for Biological Studies
La Jolla, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dixon, Jesse R — Salk Institute for Biological Studies
- Study coordinator: Dixon, Jesse R
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.