NIH-funded research R01 grant

Promoter-proximal elements coordinating gene control in development

Official title: Regulation of long distance enhancer-promoter interactions by promoter-proximal elements

Funded at California Institute of Technology · NIH-11350920 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This NIH grant explores how gene activity is tuned in specific tissues and times by promoter-proximal elements that help long-range DNA regions talk to the gene’s start signal.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionCalifornia Institute of Technology
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Pasadena, United States)
Project startAugust 19, 2022
Project endJune 30, 2027
Funding year2026
Award (this year)$362,060
NIH project number5R01HD106799-05
Project IDNIH-11350920 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Not applicable to patients directly; basic research using model organisms to understand gene regulation.

Less likely to help

No direct patient participation or clinical testing in this phase.

What this research studies

This project studies how regions outside a gene, called enhancers, communicate with the gene’s promoter to control when and where a gene is turned on during development. Using the fruit fly as a model, researchers will examine a promoter-proximal element that seems to coordinate multiple regulatory regions and long-range DNA interactions. The work combines genetics, molecular biology, and chromatin studies to uncover how these interactions shape normal development and tissue maintenance. Findings could illuminate fundamental mechanisms that, when disrupted, lead to developmental disorders.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: Better understanding of how gene regulation goes wrong could inform treatments or prevention strategies for diseases linked to developmental gene control.

How similar studies have gone: Prior work in model organisms suggests promoter-proximal elements can coordinate enhancer activity, supporting the potential for broader applicability.

Where this research is happening

  • California Institute of Technology
    Pasadena, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Stathopoulos, Angelike — California Institute of Technology
  • Study coordinator: Stathopoulos, Angelike

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.