How genes are controlled during development and in diseases like cancer
Mechanisms and determinants of dynamic gene regulation during development and cellular differentiation
This work aims to understand how our genes are regulated in individual cells, which is key to understanding and treating many human diseases, including cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11139511 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Our bodies are made of trillions of cells, each with the same genetic code, but they develop into different types and respond to challenges in unique ways. This project explores how the instructions within our genes are read and controlled, as errors in this process can lead to almost all human diseases, including chronic inflammatory conditions, metabolic disorders, and cancer. Researchers are using advanced single-cell technologies and human cell models like iPSCs and organoids to study these gene regulation processes in detail. By combining these tools with genetic changes, we hope to gain a deeper understanding of how diseases develop.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This foundational research is relevant to patients living with or at risk for various human diseases, including chronic inflammatory diseases, metabolic disorders, and cancer.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate new treatments or direct clinical intervention would not directly benefit from this basic science project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this fundamental understanding of gene regulation could lead to new ways to prevent, diagnose, and treat a wide range of human diseases, especially cancers.
How similar studies have performed: The use of single-cell genomic technologies and human iPSC/organoid models are cutting-edge approaches that have shown great promise in biomedical research.
Where this research is happening
Chicago, United States
- University of Chicago — Chicago, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Pott, Sebastian — University of Chicago
- Study coordinator: Pott, Sebastian
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.