Understanding extra chromosomes using a fruit fly model
Official title: Investigating supernumerary chromosome biology using the B chromosome model system
Funded at University of Connecticut Storrs · NIH-11357700 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This NIH grant supports research to learn how extra chromosomes arise and behave, using a Drosophila model to inform human cancers and developmental disorders, with patient impact in mind.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Connecticut Storrs NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Storrs-Mansfield, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $402,500 |
| NIH project number | 5R35GM155057-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11357700 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates include individuals affected by cancers or developmental disorders linked to aneuploidy who may benefit from future diagnostic or therapeutic advances related to chromosome biology.
✕Less likely to help
Direct benefits are unlikely for people without conditions involving supernumerary chromosomes or aneuploidy at this stage.
What this research studies
Researchers will use the Drosophila B chromosome system as a model to study why extra chromosomes appear and how they move through cells. They will apply advanced DNA sequencing and bioinformatics to map these chromosomes and understand their effects on cell biology. The work leverages the many genetic tools available in fruit flies to reveal basic mechanisms that could relate to human cancer and infertility linked to aneuploidy. The project aims to fill gaps in knowledge about supernumerary chromosomes and how they contribute to disease, potentially guiding future therapies or diagnostics.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: By uncovering how extra chromosomes form and behave, this research could inform new strategies for diagnosing or treating conditions associated with aneuploidy and cancer.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work in chromosome biology and model systems has advanced understanding of aneuploidy, with ongoing potential for translation to human health.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Connecticut Storrs
Storrs-Mansfield, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hanlon, Stacey L — University of Connecticut Storrs
- Study coordinator: Hanlon, Stacey L
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
New sequencing machine to boost veterinary genomics at CVMDL
A new high-throughput DNA/RNA sequencer will be acquired and put into use at the Connecticut Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory to improve how we study and diagnose animal diseases.
-
How IL-10 changes mast cells in allergic reactions
This work looks at how the immune signal IL-10 changes mast cells and their responses in people with food allergies.
-
Optimizing a just-in-time intervention to help MSM access chemsex harm-reduction services
A smartphone app-driven approach tests personalized, timely support to help men who have sex with men access chemsex harm-reduction services and reduce HIV risk.
-
Understanding how vagus nerve stimulation helps stroke recovery to guide better treatments
This NIH grant uses computer models to figure out how brief, task-timed vagus nerve stimulation affects the brain after stroke and helps movement recovery.
-
Targeting c-Myc DNA with next-generation nucleic acid tools in aggressive B-cell lymphomas
This grant tests a new way to slow or stop aggressive B-cell lymphomas by directly targeting the c-Myc gene in patients and model systems using advanced nucleic acid analogs.
-
Soft, bendable 3D electronics and microfluidic micro-labs for drug screening in engineered tissues
A team at the University of Connecticut is building a soft, 3D electronic and microfluidic platform to grow human organoids and test drugs safely and accurately.
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.