Mapping the 3D shapes of RNA inside cells
RNA 3D structurome reconstruction and characterization
This project builds computer tools to map how RNAs fold into three-dimensional shapes inside living cells to help explain how RNA affects health and disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Massachusetts Amherst NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Hadley, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11330551 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will create new statistical and computational methods to read special sequencing data that captures which RNA pieces sit near each other in living cells. They will use chemical crosslinking and proximity‑ligation sequencing data to reconstruct high‑resolution 3D models for many different RNAs across the whole transcriptome. The team will characterize where important RNA functional parts sit in 3D space and how folding patterns relate to function. Results will come from applying these methods to experimental datasets and refining models to improve precision.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients whose conditions involve RNA dysfunction (for example some genetic disorders, cancers, or neurodegenerative diseases) or who are willing to donate tissue or blood samples for research would be most relevant to this work.
Not a fit: People seeking immediate clinical treatment for unrelated conditions are unlikely to gain direct benefit from this computational research in the short term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal RNA structures that control gene activity and point to new targets for diagnostics or therapies.
How similar studies have performed: Early studies using proximity‑ligation and crosslinking sequencing have detected RNA‑RNA contacts, but full transcriptome‑wide 3D reconstruction is still a new and developing approach.
Where this research is happening
Hadley, United States
- University of Massachusetts Amherst — Hadley, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ouyang, Zhengqing — University of Massachusetts Amherst
- Study coordinator: Ouyang, Zhengqing
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.