Synthetic biology toolkit for an animal model (Caenorhabditis elegans)
Official title: A novel synthetic biology toolkit in an animal system
Funded at University of Oregon · NIH-11605744 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new set of customizable genetic controls in a worm model aimed at understanding how complex cellular networks affect health, using synthetic biology tools.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Oregon NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Eugene, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $579,935 |
| NIH project number | 1R56EB038401-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11605744 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not applicable to patients at this stage; early-stage basic research using a worm model to inform human health in the future.
✕Less likely to help
No direct benefit to patients from this basic animal research during this grant period.
What this research studies
This project will build a flexible toolbox of synthetic transcription factors in C. elegans to precisely control gene expression. By using non-native inducers to turn these tools on or off, researchers can study how multicellular interactions influence biology related to aging and health. The work focuses on creating methods that could reveal new ways cells communicate and coordinate, potentially informing future clinical research. The study uses an animal model to explore core biological processes that translate to human health.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the toolkit could help scientists uncover how regulatory networks shape aging and disease, potentially guiding new therapeutic approaches.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows synthetic biology tools can control gene networks in single cells, with this project extending that to multicellular organisms.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Oregon
Eugene, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Phillips, Patrick C. — University of Oregon
- Study coordinator: Phillips, Patrick C.
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.