How genes guide cell development and identity

Defining gene regulatory networks controlling cell fate

NIH-funded research University of Wisconsin-Madison · NIH-11115643

This project helps us understand how genes tell cells what to do and become, which is important because these instructions can go wrong in many illnesses.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Madison, United States)
Project IDNIH-11115643 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

Our cells have intricate instruction manuals, called gene regulatory networks, that tell them what job to do and how to behave. These networks are crucial for healthy cell function, but when they go awry, they can contribute to many diseases. This project aims to map out these complex instructions by using advanced single-cell technologies that look at thousands of individual cells. We are developing new computer tools to understand how these networks are organized and how they change, which is a big challenge in biology.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: This foundational research is relevant for anyone interested in the basic biological mechanisms that contribute to various human diseases.

Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate new treatments or clinical trial opportunities will not directly benefit from this foundational research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could provide a fundamental understanding of how diseases develop at the cellular level, potentially leading to new ways to identify and treat them.

How similar studies have performed: This project builds on existing single-cell omics technologies but aims to develop novel computational methods for integrating complex data, representing a new approach to network inference.

Where this research is happening

Madison, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-09 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.