How the SWI/SNF gene-control machine is built and works
Mechanisms of SWI/SNF complex assembly and function
The team is figuring out how different versions of the SWI/SNF gene-control complex work in cells to help people with cancers that have SWI/SNF mutations.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11394936 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project studies how different parts of the SWI/SNF complex are assembled and how chemical tags and RNAs change their behavior in cells. Researchers will use lab experiments on cells, biochemical tests, and computer analyses to map many distinct forms of the complex and measure their effects on gene activity. The work focuses on changes seen in cancers where SWI/SNF genes are mutated, using datasets and samples that reflect human tumors. The goal is to find molecular switches that could eventually be targeted by new cancer therapies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people with cancers known to carry SWI/SNF mutations or those willing to donate tumor samples for related research.
Not a fit: Patients without cancers linked to SWI/SNF mutations or those seeking immediate treatment effects are unlikely to benefit directly from this basic science project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new molecular targets and strategies for treating cancers driven by SWI/SNF mutations.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have shown SWI/SNF mutations drive cancer and yielded biochemical insights, but the focus on combinatorial assembly and regulation by RNA and post-translational tags is a newer approach with limited direct clinical precedent.
Where this research is happening
Chapel Hill, United States
- Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill — Chapel Hill, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Raab, Jesse R. — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Raab, Jesse R.
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.