Understanding how trinucleotide repeat expansions cause disease
Official title: The Mechanism of Trinucleotide Repeat Disease Expansions
Funded at Ohio State University · NIH-11629759 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A research project at Ohio State University is exploring how tiny DNA repeats become unstable and drive neurological and muscular diseases, with potential implications for future therapies.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ohio State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Columbus, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 17, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $551,250 |
| NIH project number | 1R56NS146660-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11629759 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with STR expansion disorders or those at risk due to family history may benefit from future therapeutic strategies arising from this work.
✕Less likely to help
Trial participants are not being recruited in this grant; direct patient participation is not described.
What this research studies
This project studies the biological mechanisms behind trinucleotide repeat expansions that underlie more than 70 human diseases. Researchers will investigate how DNA repair processes interact with these repeats to cause expansions or contractions, using human-relevant models and molecular methods. The goal is to uncover targets that could eventually lead to better treatments or interventions for patients affected by STR expansion disorders.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Findings could inform new approaches to treating or preventing STR-related diseases in patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has linked DNA repair pathways to repeat instability, but the precise mechanisms remain incompletely understood and continue to be an active area of research.
Where this research is happening
-
Ohio State University
Columbus, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fishel, Richard — Ohio State University
- Study coordinator: Fishel, Richard
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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.