Single-cell imaging and modeling to understand gene regulation in bacteria and cancer
Official title: Integrating Multi-Scale Imaging, Reaction-Diffusion Simulation, and Markov Model Inference to Enhance Predictive Design and Interpretation of Single-Molecule Gene Regulation Experiments
Funded at Colorado State University · NIH-11390477 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A research team will combine imaging data with computer models to better understand how genes are turned on and off in individual cells, with potential implications for infections and cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Colorado State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Fort Collins, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2017 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $334,400 |
| NIH project number | 5R35GM124747-10 |
| Project ID | NIH-11390477 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are patients with bacterial infections or cancers where understanding gene regulation could influence treatment decisions or research directions.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose disease biology does not involve gene regulation dynamics at the single-cell level may see limited direct benefit.
What this research studies
Researchers will collect high-resolution images of single cells, track molecules over time, and apply computer simulations to link what they see to how genes regulate themselves. The project will build the scGUIDE platform to integrate data, validate models, and quantify uncertainties so predictions reflect real biology. This work aims to reveal how spatial and temporal changes inside cells influence gene control in both bacterial infections and cancer settings. Participants will benefit from advances in data-driven methods that could improve interpretation of experimental results and guide future experiments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could yield clearer insights into gene regulation in disease-related cells, aiding the design of targeted therapies and better experimental planning.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows that integrating imaging data with models can extract meaningful information about gene regulation, though this project expands the approach to broader conditions and uncertainty analysis.
Where this research is happening
-
Colorado State University
Fort Collins, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Munsky, Brian — Colorado State University
- Study coordinator: Munsky, Brian
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.