Understanding how RNA marks (m6A) influence lung cancer risk
Official title: Identification of N6-methyladenosine (m6A) marks and genes influencing lung cancer risk
Funded at University of Virginia · NIH-11449219 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study to find RNA modification signals that are linked to lung cancer risk in people of European and African ancestry, using genetic and multi-omics data.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R37 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Virginia NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Charlottesville, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $730,007 |
| NIH project number | 1R37CA309508-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11449219 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals of European or African ancestry whose genetic and tissue data may contribute to understanding m6A-related lung cancer risk (not a direct clinical trial).
✕Less likely to help
The study uses existing tissue resources and genetic data and does not involve direct treatment or enrollment of patients for a trial.
What this research studies
This project will combine genetic data, RNA modification profiling, and lab experiments to uncover how m6A marks affect lung cancer risk. Researchers will build models that predict m6A levels in healthy lung tissue and test these predictions against large lung cancer genetic studies. The work aims to identify specific m6A marks and genes that contribute to cancer risk and validate their roles with in vitro experiments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Identifying m6A-related risk markers could lead to earlier detection and new targets for prevention or treatment of lung cancer.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary work in the field suggests RNA modification marks can influence cancer biology, with growing evidence of links to tumorigenesis.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Virginia
Charlottesville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yang, Yaohua — University of Virginia
- Study coordinator: Yang, Yaohua
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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.