Understanding how mycobacterial transcription works to guide better TB drugs
Official title: Structural and functional studies of the mycobacterial transcription cycle
Funded at Rockefeller University · NIH-11519484 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers will study how the RNA polymerase of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and related bacteria start, pause, and finish copying genetic information, with the goal of informing new antibiotic strategies against TB.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rockefeller University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $99,673 |
| NIH project number | 3R35GM151879-03S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11519484 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not applicable to patients directly; this is a basic science grant aimed at informing future TB therapies that may benefit patients.
✕Less likely to help
Direct patient benefit is not expected from participation in this specific research project.
What this research studies
This project investigates the transcription cycle in actinobacteria, focusing on initiation, elongation, pausing, and termination to uncover how these bacteria control gene expression. By using high-resolution structural methods and biochemical analyses, the team will map how transcription factors and antibiotics influence the process. The findings could reveal new targets for drugs that work against TB and related pathogens. The work builds on prior cryo-EM structures and aims to broaden understanding of post-initiation steps and overall transcription regulation in this clinically important group.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could identify new strategies and targets for drugs to treat TB by disrupting bacterial transcription.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies in Mtb transcription have yielded actionable insights; this work extends that progress with deeper structural and functional analyses.
Where this research is happening
-
Rockefeller University
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Campbell, Elizabeth a — Rockefeller University
- Study coordinator: Campbell, Elizabeth a
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.