Single-cell and single-molecule profiling of how chromatin proteins control immune responses
Official title: Single-molecule, Single-cell profiling of chromatin protein-protein interactions.
Funded at Van Andel Research Institute · NIH-11396786 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Scientists are developing a new way to map how specific chromatin proteins and DNA marks regulate immune cells, with the goal of better cancer control and safer autoimmunity.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Van Andel Research Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Grand Rapids, United States) |
| Project start | September 10, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $912,000 |
| NIH project number | 1DP2CA325383-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11396786 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with autoimmune diseases or cancer could be eligible in future studies that use the developed epigenomic toolkit to tailor therapies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not eligible for immune-modulating therapies or those without autoimmune or cancer involvement may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project aims to create an epigenomics toolkit that can map how gene regulation in immune cells is controlled by Polycomb proteins, DNA methylation, and transcription factors at the single-cell level. It will pair single-cell profiling of chromatin factors with engineered transposase tools to capture multiple marks at once in primary human tissues. By comparing immune activation programs in healthy tissue, autoimmune settings, and cancer, the research seeks to separate beneficial anti-tumor signals from potentially harmful autoimmunity. The work combines innovative lab methods with analyses of how these epigenetic programs change in disease to guide future therapeutic strategies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could enable more precise immunotherapies that boost anti-tumor responses while reducing autoimmune risks.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary approaches show promise in mapping immune-related chromatin states, but the integrated single-cell, multi-epigenetic profiling is novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Van Andel Research Institute
Grand Rapids, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Janssens, Derek Henry — Van Andel Research Institute
- Study coordinator: Janssens, Derek Henry
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.