How tiny mRNA signals control how much protein your cells make
Official title: Regulation of mRNA translation by cis-acting sequences and trans-acting factors
Funded at Carnegie-Mellon University · NIH-11323523 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This work looks at small messages in mRNA and the proteins that bind them to understand how cells decide how much protein to make, which matters for many genetic diseases.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Carnegie-Mellon University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2022 |
| Project end | April 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $365,148 |
| NIH project number | 5R35GM145317-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11323523 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This project does not enroll patients; it uses human cell lines and computational analyses rather than recruiting people.
✕Less likely to help
People looking for immediate treatments are unlikely to benefit soon because this is basic laboratory research focused on mechanisms.
What this research studies
Researchers are focusing on short mRNA sequences called upstream open reading frames (uORFs) that sit before normal protein-coding regions and can change how much protein is produced. They will use laboratory-grown human cells and a high-throughput reporter approach adapted from yeast (Massively Parallel Reporter Assays) to test thousands of human uORFs. The team will combine those lab tests with computer modeling to find conserved uORFs and the RNA-binding proteins that control them. The goal is to map which uORFs and binding proteins alter protein output and link those changes back to genetic differences that contribute to disease.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could clarify how genetic changes alter protein levels and open new paths for better diagnosis or therapies for genetic diseases.
How similar studies have gone: Previous lab studies show uORFs can change protein production, but applying large-scale reporter assays to thousands of human uORFs and their binding proteins is a relatively new and expanding approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Carnegie-Mellon University
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mcmanus, Charles Joel — Carnegie-Mellon University
- Study coordinator: Mcmanus, Charles Joel
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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.