How microRNAs are made and regulated
Selective regulatory and biogenesis mechanisms for microRNAs
Researchers are exploring how cells make and control tiny microRNAs that can influence gene activity and play a role in cancers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Sloan-Kettering Inst Can Research NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11228093 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This work looks at the basic steps cells use to produce and control microRNAs, small molecules that help regulate genes and are linked to cancer. The team will use experiments in fruit flies and mammalian systems plus computational analyses to study three areas: how neighboring microRNAs help each other be made, how RNA quality-control prevents accidental microRNA formation from splicing, and how a newly described repressor called Alas limits microRNA levels. Methods include genetic and biochemical assays, molecular biology, and data-driven computational approaches to track microRNA processing and function. The goal is to build fundamental knowledge about small RNA pathways that could point to future clinical uses.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with cancers linked to microRNA changes or individuals willing to donate tumor or tissue samples for research would be most relevant to this project.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate clinical treatment or those with conditions unrelated to microRNA-driven cancers are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this basic research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new molecular targets or biomarkers in microRNA control that eventually improve cancer diagnosis or treatment.
How similar studies have performed: Previous basic studies have identified key microRNA-processing components, but translating those discoveries into therapies is still at an early and experimental stage.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Sloan-Kettering Inst Can Research — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lai, Eric C — Sloan-Kettering Inst Can Research
- Study coordinator: Lai, Eric C
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.