Mapping how genes control human cells with CRISPRoff
Spatial multiomic mapping of gene function with CRISPRoff
This project uses a gene-silencing tool called CRISPRoff plus single-cell and spatial tests to see how turning off genes changes cells during early human development.
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 ID | NIH-11163461 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you have a genetic or developmental condition, this work aims to map how individual genes shape cell behavior by using a gene-silencing tool (CRISPRoff) to turn genes off without cutting DNA. Scientists will combine this with single-cell and spatial "multiomic" tests that measure RNA, chromatin accessibility, and other cellular features in complex human cell models like organoids. The team will create durable "null" gene states across many genes in multicellular models and read out molecular and spatial effects at single-cell resolution. The end goal is a detailed map linking specific genes and regulators to cell identity and function during early development.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This project does not enroll patients directly, but people with inherited or developmental conditions could be future beneficiaries or may have opportunities to donate samples to related studies.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate treatments or clinical trial participation are unlikely to benefit directly from this laboratory-focused project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could reveal critical gene targets and pathways that lead to new therapies or diagnostics for developmental and genetic disorders.
How similar studies have performed: CRISPRoff has shown promise in lab studies for durable gene silencing without DNA damage, but applying it at large scale with spatial multiomic single-cell readouts in human developmental models is novel and ambitious.
Where this research is happening
San Francisco, United States
- University of California, San Francisco — San Francisco, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gilbert, Luke — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Gilbert, Luke
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 below.