Non-coding RNA changes in COPD
Official title: Non-coding RNA structure change in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Funded at Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · NIH-11177640 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are looking at how changes in the shapes of non-coding RNAs affect gene activity in adults with COPD.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2012 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $681,310 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL111527-12 |
| Project ID | NIH-11177640 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults (age 21 and older) with COPD or people known to carry COPD-associated genetic variants would be the most relevant candidates to provide samples or join related studies.
✕Less likely to help
People without COPD or those whose lung disease is entirely due to non-genetic environmental causes are unlikely to see direct benefit from this basic laboratory research in the near term.
What this research studies
This project uses new chemistry-based tools to map RNA shapes inside cells, focusing on the 5' and 3' untranslated regions of genes linked to COPD. The team probes precursor mRNA structure, identifies regions that fold into higher-order (3D) shapes, and detects through-space contacts to build three-dimensional RNA models. They combine these structural maps with genetic data about common SNPs to see how sequence changes alter RNA folding and protein production. Although mainly lab-based, the work aims to connect genetic differences to gene behavior that matters in adults with COPD.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could reveal how genetic variants change gene activity in COPD and point toward new diagnostic markers or therapeutic targets.
How similar studies have gone: This work builds on prior RNA structure research, but the specific chemistry-based probing and 3D in-cell modeling approaches are relatively new and not yet widely proven in COPD.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Laederach, Alain T — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Laederach, Alain T
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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.