Investigating how long non-coding RNAs affect the formation of exosomes
Official title: Role of Long Non-Coding RNAs in Exosome Biogenesis
Funded at University of California, San Francisco · NIH-11135842 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how certain molecules called long non-coding RNAs help cells create tiny bubbles called exosomes, which play a big role in cell communication and can affect diseases like cancer, especially when cells are under stress.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | August 10, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $410,000 |
| NIH project number | 7R35GM151259-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11135842 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with conditions that may involve exosome dysfunction, such as cancer or other diseases characterized by cellular stress.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with conditions unrelated to exosome biology or those not experiencing cellular stress may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research explores the role of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in the biogenesis of exosomes, which are tiny vesicles released by cells that facilitate communication and transport of molecules. The study aims to understand how lncRNAs regulate the processes involved in exosome formation, including their docking and cargo sorting, particularly under stress conditions like hypoxia. By examining these mechanisms, the research seeks to uncover new insights into how exosomes contribute to various diseases, including cancer.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies targeting exosome-related pathways in diseases.
How similar studies have gone: While the role of exosomes in disease is a growing field, the specific investigation of lncRNAs in exosome biogenesis is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Momen Heravi, Fatemeh — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Momen Heravi, Fatemeh
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
How cancer cells use exosomes to evade the immune system
This study is looking at how cancer cells use tiny bubbles called exosomes to hide proteins that can keep your immune system from fighting the tumor, and by figuring this out, the researchers hope to help doctors understand why some people respond well to cancer treatments while others don’t, ultimately aiming to creat
-
Reducing harm from smoking using electronic cigarettes
This study is looking at whether using electronic cigarettes can be a safer option for people who smoke traditional cigarettes, by comparing the health effects and exposure to harmful substances between the two.
-
Understanding how knee pain and knee obesity and muscle loss affect knee osteoarthritis
This project looks at how knee swelling, excess knee fat, and muscle loss relate to pain and structural changes in knee osteoarthritis in adults.
-
Cutaneous opioid signals in skin inflammation
A mentor-identified clinician-researcher at UCSF is studying how natural skin opioids regulate itch and pain in inflammatory skin conditions like eczema and hidradenitis, with plans to map where these opioids come from and how they affect skin nerves.
-
Pooling international data to understand long-term bisphosphonate use and atypical femur fractures
This project combines large patient datasets from multiple countries to understand how long-term bisphosphonate use relates to rare hip and thigh bone fractures, helping doctors and patients make safer treatment choices.
-
Airway cell and immune cell talks in lung transplant failure
This grant tests how airway cells and immune cells interact to drive chronic rejection after lung transplant, with the goal of slowing or preventing scar-like damage.
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.