New tools to precisely edit and read DNA and gene activity for treating disease
Official title: Center for Genomic Editing and Recording: Development and Application of Next-Generation Genome and Epigenome Editing Methods to Advance the Study and Treatment of Human Disease
Funded at Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Res · NIH-11123231 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are building next-generation tools to change and record DNA and gene activity to help people with genetic diseases and cancer get safer, more targeted care.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Res NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cambridge, United States) |
| Project start | August 8, 2017 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $2,450,000 |
| NIH project number | 5RM1HG009490-09 |
| Project ID | NIH-11123231 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with genetic conditions or cancers linked to specific DNA changes who can provide tissue samples or join related clinical protocols would be the most relevant candidates.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose conditions are not driven by identifiable genetic changes or who require immediate standard treatments are unlikely to see direct benefit from this research in the short term.
What this research studies
This center will create advanced gene-editing and gene‑control tools (using CRISPR, engineered zinc fingers, and TALE proteins) that avoid cutting both strands of DNA to reduce damage. Teams will also develop ways to record genetic changes inside individual cells and to edit both nuclear and mitochondrial genomes. The work includes testing these tools in cells and tissues tied to human diseases, with connections to breast cancer biology such as BCAR1. Over time the technologies could support development of precise therapies, diagnostics, or clinical studies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, these technologies could enable safer and more precise treatments or diagnostics for people with genetic disorders and certain cancers.
How similar studies have gone: Related CRISPR-based therapies and newer base/prime editors have shown early clinical promise, but many precision recording and break-free editing methods remain experimental.
Where this research is happening
-
Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Res
Cambridge, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Weissman, Jonathan S. — Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Res
- Study coordinator: Weissman, Jonathan S.
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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.