New tools to study how asymmetric histone tweaks control gene activity
Official title: Asymmetric nucleosome substrates to advance the study of the histone code
Funded at Epicypher, INC. · NIH-11398222 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new NIH grant aims to create designer nucleosomes with asymmetric modifications to better understand how gene regulation is influenced by the histone code, which could lead to better biomarkers and therapies for cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Epicypher, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Research Triangle Park, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 1, 2025 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,264,176 |
| NIH project number | 5R44GM154510-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11398222 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with cancers where chromatin changes influence disease progression or treatment response (conceptual; no direct patient intervention in this grant).
✕Less likely to help
This grant focuses on tool development and basic science; it does not involve direct patient participation.
What this research studies
This project focuses on histone modifications and how asymmetric versus symmetric patterns affect interactions with proteins that regulate gene activity. Researchers will develop a scalable method to produce asymmetric designer nucleosomes and test their effects on cellular signaling related to cancer. The work bridges basic science with potential downstream applications in biomarker discovery and epigenetic therapies. By making new tools available, scientists can study chromatin behavior more precisely in disease-relevant contexts.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could benefit from sharper biomarkers and new approaches to epigenetic therapies for cancer.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows that histone modifications and symmetry influence chromatin interactions, but this project aims to expand that with novel asymmetric substrates.
Where this research is happening
-
Epicypher, INC.
Research Triangle Park, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cheek, Marcus — Epicypher, INC.
- Study coordinator: Cheek, Marcus
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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.