How parental genomes shape cell identity and cancer risk
Official title: Genome Folding and Regulation in Diploid Multicellular Organisms
Funded at University of Connecticut Storrs · NIH-11332488 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are studying how the two copies of each chromosome from mom and dad are packaged in cells and how this affects development and cancer risk.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Connecticut Storrs NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Storrs-Mansfield, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2022 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $402,500 |
| NIH project number | 5R35GM146922-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11332488 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are patients or individuals whose health conditions are related to congenital abnormalities or cancers linked to genome architecture, though this grant is largely a basic science investigation.
✕Less likely to help
If your condition is not related to genome architecture or cancer biology, direct benefits may be limited.
What this research studies
This project looks at how the genome is organized in diploid cells and how parental contributions influence gene activity and cell fate. Using haplotype-specific methods and single-cell imaging, it aims to map how maternal and paternal genomes are arranged and regulated in different cell types. The study hopes to connect these genome-architecture patterns to developmental disorders and cancer, and to understand when disruption of genome integrity leads to abnormal cell states. The work builds on prior methods to distinguish homologous chromosomes and will explore how structural differences between parents impact cell behavior.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: A better understanding of genome organization could lead to earlier diagnosis or novel strategies to prevent or treat developmental disorders and cancers linked to genome misregulation.
How similar studies have gone: Prior approaches using haplotype-specific omics and single-cell imaging have shown promise in distinguishing parental genomes and linking genome structure to function.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Connecticut Storrs
Storrs-Mansfield, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Erceg, Jelena — University of Connecticut Storrs
- Study coordinator: Erceg, Jelena
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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.