Understanding enhancer 'switches' that control genes in human cells
Dissecting enhancer function through integrative genomics
Researchers will combine many types of DNA and chromatin data to learn how enhancer 'switches' control gene activity across human cell types and connect to diseases.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Ctr & Res Inst NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Tampa, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11181603 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project uses computer-based methods to join eight different genomic features from hundreds of human cell types to map how enhancers (non-coding DNA 'switches') work. The team will develop new statistical and machine-learning tools to handle uneven data, fill in missing enhancer profiles, and create a shared way to judge enhancer function. Findings will link enhancer activity patterns to human phenotypes and disease-relevant genes. The lab combines experience in sequence data processing, algorithm development, and functional evaluation to carry out this integrative analysis.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with conditions known or suspected to involve changes in gene regulation—such as many cancers or some genetic disorders—are most likely to find this research relevant and could be candidates for future related studies.
Not a fit: Patients whose conditions are unrelated to gene regulation or who need immediate clinical interventions are unlikely to see direct benefit from this computational work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal disease mechanisms and highlight new diagnostic markers or therapeutic targets tied to gene regulation.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have mapped individual enhancer features and linked them to disease, but integrating eight genomic features across hundreds of human cell types at this scale is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
Tampa, United States
- H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Ctr & Res Inst — Tampa, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Teng, Mingxiang — H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Ctr & Res Inst
- Study coordinator: Teng, Mingxiang
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 below.