Mapping how genes work together in human cells to find disease-linked genes
MorPhiC: Constructing a Catalog of Cellular Programs to Identify and Annotate Human Disease Genes
The team will build a detailed map showing which genes act together in specific human cell types to help pinpoint genes linked to disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Stanford University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stanford, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11174216 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project combines lab experiments and computer analysis to map how groups of genes create specific behaviors in human cell types. Researchers will use CRISPR to perturb genes, gather single-cell RNA, ATAC, and imaging data, and integrate human genetics information. The team will assemble a searchable Catalog of Cellular Programs that links gene groups to molecular and cellular signatures. That Catalog is meant to guide researchers to the pathways that drive human diseases and highlight potential targets for diagnostics or treatments.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants would be people willing to provide biological samples or share genetic data for studies of specific diseases.
Not a fit: Patients seeking an immediate treatment or cure are unlikely to receive direct clinical benefit from this foundational research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help researchers identify disease-causing genes and reveal new targets for diagnostics and therapies.
How similar studies have performed: Related CRISPR plus single-cell and imaging approaches have recently produced promising biological insights, but creating a comprehensive, cross-disease catalog at this scale is novel.
Where this research is happening
Stanford, United States
- Stanford University — Stanford, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Engreitz, Jesse M — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: Engreitz, Jesse M
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.