How genome structure shapes immune function
Genome organization, evolutionary structural variation, and gene regulation in immunity
Researchers compare genome structure differences between mice and humans to understand how immune genes are turned on and off and to help people with immune-related conditions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11261523 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From my perspective as a patient, the team is looking at big rearrangements in DNA that can move genes and their regulatory switches around. They map structural differences and 3-D folding of chromosomes and measure how those changes affect gene activity in immune cells. The work uses mouse models, human genomic data, and samples of immune cells to connect genome structure with immune cell behavior. The aim is to make findings from lab animals more applicable to human immune health.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People who might take part are those willing to give blood or immune cell samples, including healthy volunteers and patients with autoimmune or infectious diseases.
Not a fit: People looking for immediate changes to their care or enrollment in a clinical drug trial are unlikely to get direct medical benefit from participating in this laboratory-focused research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could make preclinical mouse findings more predictive of human immune responses, speeding the development of better therapies for infections and immune disorders.
How similar studies have performed: Previous comparative genomics and 3-D genome studies have shown that structural differences can change gene regulation, but translating those findings into improved human treatments remains a developing area.
Where this research is happening
Chicago, United States
- University of Chicago — Chicago, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Weinmann, Amy Susan — University of Chicago
- Study coordinator: Weinmann, Amy Susan
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.