How the 3D genome structure in human cells reacts to physical stress in health and cancer
Official title: Folding, Misfolding, and Unfolding: How human 3D genome structure resists, adapts, or succumbs to physical stresses in health and disease
Funded at University of Tennessee Knoxville · NIH-11398183 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A scientist at the University of Tennessee Knoxville is studying how the 3D folding of human chromosomes changes when cells experience physical stress, and what this means for cancer biology.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Tennessee Knoxville NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Knoxville, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2019 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $50,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R35GM133557-08 |
| Project ID | NIH-11398183 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are patients or samples with cancers where 3D genome structure and mechanosensing are relevant, or cell models derived from such cancers.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose cancer biology does not involve significant 3D genome remodeling or mechanosensation may experience no direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project looks at how the 3D arrangement of chromosomes inside the nucleus responds to forces such as DNA damage, nuclear envelope changes, and cell movement. Using 3C-based methods, the team will map how chromosome loops and domains shift under stress and how these changes relate to gene regulation and cell behavior in cancer-relevant contexts. The goal is to connect imaging and molecular data to understand how mechanical forces influence the 3D genome and, in turn, cellular outcomes. Findings could reveal why certain cells resist or undergo changes in disease, including cancer progression.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Understanding how physical stress alters chromosome organization could lead to new strategies to predict or influence cancer cell behavior.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has shown that chromosome structure can be altered by stress, with some robust patterns and others that are more context-dependent.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Tennessee Knoxville
Knoxville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mccord, Rachel Patton — University of Tennessee Knoxville
- Study coordinator: Mccord, Rachel Patton
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.