Understanding how RNA chemical tweaks are added and read in cells
Official title: INVESTIGATE SEQUENCE SPECIFICITY IN THE BIOSYNTHESIS AND RECOGNITION OF RNA CHEMICAL MODIFICATIONS
Funded at Boston College · NIH-11389396 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are studying how specific RNA chemical changes are placed and recognized in human cells and how this affects gene control and diseases.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston College NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chestnut Hill, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $391,250 |
| NIH project number | 5R35GM150789-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11389396 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals with cancers or related conditions where RNA modification pathways may be involved could be potential beneficiaries of future translations of this work.
✕Less likely to help
Healthy individuals or patients without involvement of RNA modification pathways may see no direct benefit from this specific research.
What this research studies
This project looks at where RNA chemical modifications occur in the genome and how enzymes install and read these marks. Using newer sequencing methods, scientists aim to map these modifications in detail and understand their role in gene expression, stress responses, and disease states. The work integrates biochemistry with cellular biology to reveal sequence-specific patterns and their functional consequences. Findings could highlight new targets for therapies that modulate RNA regulation in cancer and other conditions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Improved understanding of RNA modifications could lead to new avenues for diagnosing or treating diseases where RNA regulation goes awry.
How similar studies have gone: Other studies using high-throughput sequencing to map RNA modifications have begun to reveal functional links, with growing evidence of clinical relevance.
Where this research is happening
-
Boston College
Chestnut Hill, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zhou, Huiqing — Boston College
- Study coordinator: Zhou, Huiqing
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.