Mapping RNA shapes and movements inside living cells
High Throughput Determination of RNA 3D Structures and Dynamics in Vivo
['FUNDING_OTHER'] · UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA · NIH-11135509
This project develops fast lab and computer methods to read the 3-D shapes and motions of RNA inside living cells to help understand diseases and viruses.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_OTHER'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (Los Angeles, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11135509 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
Researchers are building high-throughput lab and computational tools that chemically tag RNAs inside living cells, read those tags with sequencing, and use modeling to create 3-D maps of RNA structures and how they change over time. The approach will be applied to RNAs that control gene activity and to viral RNAs relevant to human disease. Work combines chemical probing, large-scale sequencing, and advanced computer modeling to scale up structure determination beyond small, well-behaved RNAs. The goal is to reveal structural features that control biology and could become targets for new RNA-targeting therapies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with RNA-related genetic conditions, or patients with viral infections, and those willing to donate tissue or blood samples for research would be the most relevant candidates for related future studies.
Not a fit: People whose conditions are unrelated to RNA function or gene regulation are unlikely to see direct benefits from this work in the near term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new RNA targets and speed the development of drugs and therapies for genetic diseases and RNA-driven infections.
How similar studies have performed: Earlier chemical probing methods and some RNA-targeting therapies have shown promise for specific RNAs, but comprehensive in vivo 3-D mapping at scale is still largely new and unproven.
Where this research is happening
Los Angeles, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA — Los Angeles, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: LU, ZHIPENG — UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
- Study coordinator: LU, ZHIPENG
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.