miR-718: understanding how a tiny RNA could affect gene switches in disease
Official title: In Vitro Identification of miR-718 targets and miR-718-induced epigenetic modifications
Funded at University of South Carolina · NIH-11373073 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A small molecule called miR-718 may influence key genes involved in cancer, heart health, and brain disorders, by changing how cells read their DNA instructions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of South Carolina NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Spartanburg, United States) |
| Project start | August 5, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $172,500 |
| NIH project number | 5R16GM154787-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11373073 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals whose conditions involve cancer, cardiovascular disease, or neurological disorders where miR-718-related pathways are known to play a role.
✕Less likely to help
People without diseases linked to miR-718 pathways may not directly benefit from this basic research.
What this research studies
This project studies how miR-718 can change gene activity in human cell models, focusing on how it alters proteins and pathways linked to cancer, cardiovascular disease, and neurological conditions. Researchers will use lab assays in neural cells to see how miR-718 affects targets like PTEN and DNA methylation machinery, and how these changes influence cell survival and death pathways. The work aims to map which genes miR-718 touches and what that could mean for diseases where these pathways go awry. Results could guide future research on new therapeutic strategies that target these RNA-driven processes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could clarify how miR-718 influences disease-relevant pathways and inform future therapies that modulate this microRNA.
How similar studies have gone: Early lab data suggest miR-718 can affect key genes, but further confirmation in human cells is needed.
Where this research is happening
-
University of South Carolina
Spartanburg, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Shorter, Kimberly R — University of South Carolina
- Study coordinator: Shorter, Kimberly R
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.