How DNA packaging controls cell identity
Official title: Role of nucleosome architecture in cellular reprogramming
Funded at University of North Dakota · NIH-11164506 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are looking at how the way DNA is packaged lets certain proteins unlock genes to change a cell's identity, which could one day help people with diseases such as cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of North Dakota NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Grand Forks, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $296,100 |
| NIH project number | 5R01GM148729-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11164506 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This grant funds lab-based research and is not recruiting patients now; future studies stemming from this work might involve people with cancers linked to these gene-regulation errors.
✕Less likely to help
People looking for an immediate treatment or those with conditions unrelated to gene regulation are unlikely to benefit from this research in the short term.
What this research studies
This project studies proteins called pioneer factors that can bind to DNA wrapped around nucleosomes and open up otherwise closed regions of the genome. Scientists use lab-grown cells and molecular tools to map where these factors bind and how they change chromatin structure. They will manipulate these factors and nucleosome architecture in controlled experiments to see which changes are needed to turn genes on or off. Because misregulation of these processes is linked to cancers, understanding the mechanisms could point to future diagnostic markers or therapies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify new ways to reprogram cells or new targets for treating cancers caused by errors in gene regulation.
How similar studies have gone: Previous lab studies have shown pioneer factors can open chromatin in cells, but translating these basic findings into clinical treatments is still at an early and unproven stage.
Where this research is happening
-
University of North Dakota
Grand Forks, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Takaku, Motoki — University of North Dakota
- Study coordinator: Takaku, Motoki
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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.