How DNA loops are formed and remodeled inside human cells
Official title: Mechanisms of cohesin-mediated 3D genome organization
Funded at University of Texas at Austin · NIH-11449855 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research explores how the cohesin complex and related proteins organize DNA into 3D loops that control gene activity, with implications for developmental disorders and cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas at Austin NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Austin, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $491,703 |
| NIH project number | 1R01GM160762-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11449855 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not specific to a patient subgroup; findings may eventually inform therapies for developmental disorders and cancers related to cohesin dysfunction.
✕Less likely to help
Early-stage basic research may not have immediate clinical benefit for individual patients.
What this research studies
Proteins that shape the 3D structure of our genome guide which genes turn on or off. The project will study how cohesin, CTCF, its unloading factor WAPL, and regulatory RNAs work together to create and change DNA loops. Using advanced profiling techniques, researchers will test how DNA and RNA interactions influence loop boundaries and cohesin behavior. The work aims to reveal the molecular choreography that keeps the genome organized for healthy development and to understand what goes wrong in disease.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: A deeper understanding of genome organization could lead to new approaches for diagnosing and treating diseases linked to chromosome structure.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown cohesin and CTCF roles in loop formation, with ongoing work expanding mechanistic details.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Texas at Austin
Austin, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Finkelstein, Ilya J — University of Texas at Austin
- Study coordinator: Finkelstein, Ilya J
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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.