New tools for modifying DNA and RNA nucleobases
Official title: DNAzymes for Site-Specific DNA and RNA Nucleobase Modification
Funded at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign · NIH-10901830 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is exploring new tools called DNAzymes that can change specific parts of DNA and RNA, which could help scientists better understand how these changes affect our bodies and lead to exciting new uses in medicine and technology.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Champaign, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $290,976 |
| NIH project number | 5R01GM149566-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10901830 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research would include individuals with genetic conditions or diseases that could benefit from targeted DNA or RNA modifications.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with conditions unrelated to DNA or RNA modifications may not receive any benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing innovative DNAzymes, which are artificial DNA sequences that can perform specific modifications on DNA and RNA nucleobases. By using a method called in vitro selection, researchers aim to create DNAzymes that can efficiently modify long nucleic acid substrates, overcoming current limitations in synthesizing modified nucleic acids. This approach could enhance our understanding of the biochemical and biological roles of nucleobase modifications, potentially leading to new applications in biotechnology and medicine.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to advanced techniques for modifying DNA and RNA, which may improve therapeutic strategies and diagnostic tools.
How similar studies have gone: While DNAzymes have shown promise in various applications, this specific approach to nucleobase modification is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Champaign, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Silverman, Scott K — University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
- Study coordinator: Silverman, Scott K
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Counterfactual explanations for AI-assisted cancer diagnosis and subtyping
A cancer-diagnosis AI tool will be made easier to understand by showing counterfactual explanations that reveal how changing histopathology images could change the model’s prediction.
-
A 3D ultrasound scanner to see early chemotherapy response in breast cancer
A new 3D ultrasound imaging method will be tested to see if it can quickly show whether breast cancer is responding to chemotherapy.
-
Upgrading automated antimicrobial testing equipment to support animal health surveillance
A university veterinary lab is upgrading its automatic system to read and incubate samples so it can continue tracking antibiotic resistance in animals and pet foods.
-
Hybridization capture sequencing to quickly identify canine urinary pathogens and resistance genes
A new sequencing approach directly from dog urine aims to rapidly identify bacteria causing urinary infections and their drug-resistance profiles to guide treatment.
-
Wearable biofeedback device to help swallowing after neurologic injury
This project helps people with swallowing problems from neurologic conditions use a small wearable sensor that shows neck muscle activity to guide exercises and improve swallowing.
-
Phthalate exposure and aging of the female reproductive system
This project looks at how certain plastics chemicals may speed up aging of the female reproductive system and affect fertility and health.
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.