Integrative single-cell ideas to map disease genetics
Official title: Integrative modelling of single-cell data to elucidate the genetic architecture of complex disease
Funded at Dana-Farber Cancer Inst · NIH-11417220 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A large NIH grant will use advanced single-cell data to connect genetic clues from GWAS to the biology of complex diseases, with the goal of better understanding how diseases arise in human cells.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Dana-Farber Cancer Inst NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | April 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $502,740 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HG013083-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11417220 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients whose diseases involve complex genetic influences and measurable cellular biology could benefit from the insights developed in this project.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without diseases linked to complex genetic architectures may not directly benefit from the findings.
What this research studies
This project will bring together diverse single-cell data and GWAS results to map how genetic differences influence disease at the level of individual cells. The team aims to create new methods that can handle the complexity and variability of single-cell information, and to identify cell states that are linked to disease. By combining multiple single-cell data types, they hope to fine-map disease variants and link them to the genes they affect, helping translate genetic findings into biological insight. If successful, the work could reveal precise cellular contexts where disease mechanisms operate and point to potential new targets for therapy.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If the approach succeeds, patients could benefit from a clearer understanding of how genetic factors drive disease at the cellular level, potentially guiding personalized treatments in the future.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary approaches have shown that single-cell data can illuminate disease biology, but robust methods for integrating it with GWAS remain an active area with promising early results.
Where this research is happening
-
Dana-Farber Cancer Inst
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gusev, Alexander — Dana-Farber Cancer Inst
- Study coordinator: Gusev, Alexander
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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.