Mapping how drugs bind to chromatin to speed new therapies
Official title: Genomic profiling of drug-chromatin interactions for accelerated drug development research
Funded at Epicypher, INC. · NIH-11407338 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new test will map where small drug molecules touch chromatin in human cells to help design better, safer epigenetic drugs.
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 | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,062,099 |
| NIH project number | 1R44TR006068-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11407338 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not a patient-in-study grant; this is a tool development grant. Patients would benefit indirectly through faster, better therapies.
✕Less likely to help
This project does not enroll patients and does not directly test a therapy in people.
What this research studies
This project develops SMMap, a cutting-edge method to directly see where small molecules bind to chromatin across the genome. By identifying direct drug targets and the downstream responses in cells, it aims to improve specificity and reduce side effects. The work focuses on making these assays more sensitive and compatible with chromatin-associated proteins, with the goal of speeding translation into clinical use. The research is designed to inform drug optimization and accelerate translational efforts in diseases like cancer, inflammation, and neurological disorders.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, it could lead to faster development of safer, more effective epigenetic drugs for patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous chromatin-targeting assays exist but lack sensitivity; this new approach aims to improve upon them and is building on ongoing epigenetic drug research.
Where this research is happening
-
Epicypher, INC.
Research Triangle Park, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Marunde, Matthew — Epicypher, INC.
- Study coordinator: Marunde, Matthew
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.