Understanding how telomeres work in a parasite that causes sleeping sickness
Official title: Telomere end processing and telomere stability maintenance in trypanosomes
Funded at Cleveland State University · NIH-11093916 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how a parasite that causes African sleeping sickness keeps its chromosomes safe and stable, which could help us find new ways to treat the disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cleveland State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cleveland, United States) |
| Project start | August 5, 2022 |
| Project end | May 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $297,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R01GM147378-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11093916 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with African sleeping sickness or those at risk of infection.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with other unrelated conditions or those not affected by Trypanosoma brucei will not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the mechanisms of telomere maintenance in the parasite Trypanosoma brucei, which is responsible for African sleeping sickness. The study focuses on how telomeres, the protective ends of chromosomes, are processed and stabilized, particularly in the absence of certain proteins found in other organisms. By examining the role of specific telomere proteins and their interactions with DNA, the research aims to uncover new insights into how this parasite survives and evades the immune system. This could lead to novel therapeutic strategies targeting telomere dynamics in the parasite.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatments for African sleeping sickness by targeting the unique telomere mechanisms of the parasite.
How similar studies have gone: While the specific approach to telomere dynamics in Trypanosoma brucei is novel, similar studies in other organisms have shown promising results in understanding telomere biology.
Where this research is happening
-
Cleveland State University
Cleveland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Li, Bibo — Cleveland State University
- Study coordinator: Li, Bibo
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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.