Understanding how to change cell identities for better therapies
Official title: Decoding the Molecular Mechanisms Governing Regulation and Reprogramming of Cellular Identity
Funded at Brigham and Women's Hospital · NIH-11222535 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how cells can change into different types, which is important for creating better treatments for diseases, and it's for anyone interested in how we can improve cell therapies to make them safer and more effective.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brigham and Women's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | March 5, 2024 |
| Project end | January 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $403,650 |
| NIH project number | 7R35GM153468-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11222535 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with conditions that could benefit from cell therapies, such as degenerative diseases or injuries requiring tissue regeneration.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with stable conditions that do not require cellular reprogramming or those who are not candidates for cell-based therapies may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the mechanisms that allow cells to change their identity, which is crucial for developing effective therapies and disease models. The team will explore why current methods of reprogramming cells often result in immature and mixed populations, making them unsuitable for clinical use. By using advanced techniques like single-cell multiomic lineage tracing, they aim to identify the specific cell types that can be successfully reprogrammed. This knowledge could lead to more efficient and targeted cell therapies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved methods for creating specialized cells for therapeutic applications.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in understanding cell reprogramming, but this approach aims to fill critical gaps in knowledge that have not yet been fully explored.
Where this research is happening
-
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Morris, Samantha Annette — Brigham and Women's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Morris, Samantha Annette
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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.