Live-cell imaging of how gene bursts are controlled in 3D genome
Official title: Live-cell super-resolution imaging of enhancer-mediated gene bursting
Funded at Pennsylvania State University, the · NIH-11430086 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant studies how gene-regulating enhancers and transcription machinery form in 3D inside living cells to control gene bursts, using mouse stem cells and development models.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Pennsylvania State University, the NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (University Park, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2026 |
| Project end | April 30, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $419,939 |
| NIH project number | 1R35GM166242-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11430086 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with conditions linked to gene regulation and development, or researchers studying transcriptional control in human stem cell models.
✕Less likely to help
People not involved in gene regulation research or those without interest in developmental gene expression may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
Researchers will observe transcriptional condensates in live mouse embryonic stem cells to see how they form, dissolve, and are shaped by genome architecture. They will also explore how these condensates regulate different genes during development, using beta-globin as a model system in mouse leukemia cells. The work uses cutting-edge imaging to link 3D genome structure with real-time gene activity. This could help explain why genes turn on and off in specific contexts and how cell identity is established. The project aims to build new methods and insights that could illuminate fundamental gene regulation mechanisms in mammals.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could improve our understanding of how gene regulation goes awry in diseases and guide future therapies that target chromatin organization.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has shown that transcriptional condensates exist and influence gene bursting in cells, supporting the potential of this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Pennsylvania State University, the
University Park, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Du, Manyu — Pennsylvania State University, the
- Study coordinator: Du, Manyu
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.