Understanding how cells make ribosomal RNA
Official title: New Paradigms for the molecular basis of RNA polymerase I transcription
Funded at Upstate Medical University · NIH-11376296 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Learning how the cell's RNA-making machinery (Pol I) works could help people with certain cancers and developmental disorders.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Upstate Medical University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Syracuse, United States) |
| Project start | March 5, 2021 |
| Project end | February 28, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $67,746 |
| NIH project number | 3R01GM141033-05S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11376296 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with cancers known to have upregulated ribosomal RNA production or individuals with developmental syndromes tied to Pol I defects would be most relevant to this work.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose illnesses are unrelated to ribosome production or Pol I activity are unlikely to benefit directly from this research.
What this research studies
This project will look at the molecular machines that make ribosomal RNA and map how they are built and organized. Researchers will examine how Pol I initiation factors interact with ribosomal DNA and how key proteins activate Pol I. Work uses biochemical, biophysical, and structural approaches in purified systems and human-derived samples to reveal differences from other RNA polymerases. The goal is to explain how Pol I changes can lead to cancer or developmental conditions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could point to new diagnostic markers or targets for therapies for cancers with high Pol I activity and for developmental disorders linked to Pol I dysfunction.
How similar studies have gone: Basic research on Pol I is more limited than for other polymerases, and while preliminary lab findings support the approach, translating these discoveries into treatments remains novel and unproven.
Where this research is happening
-
Upstate Medical University
Syracuse, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Knutson, Bruce Alan — Upstate Medical University
- Study coordinator: Knutson, Bruce Alan
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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.