Mapping changes in immune cell gene regulation
Official title: Quantitative mapping of dynamic epigenetic states in rare and stimulated immune cells
Funded at Epicypher, INC. · NIH-10895434 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how changes to certain proteins that help organize our DNA can influence how immune cells work, especially in rare types of these cells, to find new ways to understand and treat immune and inflammatory diseases.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Epicypher, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Research Triangle Park, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | August 18, 2022 |
| Project end | July 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $997,966 |
| NIH project number | 5R44AI167215-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-10895434 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include individuals with immune or inflammatory diseases who may benefit from a better understanding of their condition at a molecular level.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with stable, non-inflammatory conditions may not receive direct benefits from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how specific chemical modifications to histones, which are proteins that help package DNA, affect gene expression in immune cells. By focusing on rare immune cell types and their responses to stimulation, the project aims to uncover new regulatory mechanisms linked to immune and inflammatory diseases. The researchers are developing a novel, ultra-sensitive genomics platform called EpiPrime-seqTM to better analyze these modifications in primary immune cells, overcoming limitations of existing methods. This approach could lead to a deeper understanding of how immune responses are regulated at the molecular level.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new insights and treatments for immune and inflammatory diseases.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown success with similar approaches in studying chromatin dynamics, but this specific method is novel and untested.
Where this research is happening
-
Epicypher, INC.
Research Triangle Park, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Keogh, Michael-Christopher — Epicypher, INC.
- Study coordinator: Keogh, Michael-Christopher
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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New tools to map and measure epigenetic changes in aging and Alzheimer's disease
A small grant is funding new methods to find and measure combinations of chemical tags on histones that change with aging and Alzheimer’s disease, helping identify targets and biomarkers.
-
Mapping how drugs bind to chromatin to speed new therapies
A new test will map where small drug molecules touch chromatin in human cells to help design better, safer epigenetic drugs.
-
New tools to study how asymmetric histone tweaks control gene activity
A new NIH grant aims to create designer nucleosomes with asymmetric modifications to better understand how gene regulation is influenced by the histone code, which could lead to better biomarkers and therapies for cancer.
-
Epigenomic profiling of cell-free nucleosomes in plasma cancer research
A new test platform analyzes the tiny pieces of DNA wrapped around proteins in blood to help identify cancer signals.
-
Scalable single-molecule chromatin accessibility profiling in immune cells
A new approach aims to map which parts of the genome are accessible and which proteins bind them in immune cells, using advanced sequencing on a scale that could reveal detailed cell-by-cell information.
-
A New Way to Map DNA Structures Linked to Alzheimer's and Aging
This project is creating a new and more accurate way to map special DNA structures called R-loops, which are connected to aging and brain diseases like Alzheimer's.
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.