Mapping the human genome in 3D
Center for Genome Imaging
This project builds new tools to take detailed three-dimensional pictures of human DNA to better understand conditions like cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Harvard Medical School NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11062446 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are creating lab methods and computer tools that let them see where specific DNA sequences sit inside human cells using advanced microscopes. They will work with both fixed and live cells, combine super-resolution imaging with genome-wide data, and use machine learning and physical modeling to build 3D maps. The team includes experts in genetics, imaging, chromosome biology, and data analysis who will share methods across labs. The project also trains researchers in these combined skills so the field can use the new imaging approaches more widely.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are people with cancers or other conditions who can provide tumor or blood samples, or volunteers willing to donate cells for research.
Not a fit: Patients seeking an immediate change in their own treatment are unlikely to benefit directly because this is a basic-methods research effort.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could reveal how genome structure contributes to disease and lead to earlier diagnostics or new treatment ideas.
How similar studies have performed: This work builds on prior microscopy and genome-contact (Hi-C) studies but aims to deliver much higher-resolution, sequence-specific whole-genome images that are more novel.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Harvard Medical School — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wu, Chao-Ting — Harvard Medical School
- Study coordinator: Wu, Chao-Ting
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.