Understanding RNA modifications in gene regulation and cancer biology
Official title: Investigating the roles of nuclear RNA modifications in gene regulation
Funded at University of California Riverside · NIH-11372229 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A cancer-focused research grant explores how chemical changes to RNA control gene expression, with the goal of uncovering new biology that could inform cancer therapies.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Riverside NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Riverside, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $393,750 |
| NIH project number | 5R35GM153225-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11372229 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are patients whose cancers or related biological samples could provide relevant human data or tissues for mechanistic studies, or researchers with access to patient-derived materials.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without access to participating in studies or samples related to RNA modification biology may see no direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project studies how RNA modifications influence how genes are turned on or off in human cells, including cancer-related processes. It uses advanced sequencing and molecular techniques to map RNA cap structures and related modifications in cells and model systems. The goal is to reveal how these RNA changes affect cell behavior and disease progression, which could guide future treatments. Participants would likely come from research teams and potentially patient-derived samples through collaborations as needed for translational insights.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could identify new RNA-based targets or biomarkers for cancer diagnosis and treatment.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has shown RNA modifications can influence gene expression and disease, suggesting potential for meaningful discoveries though specific applications may be novel.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California Riverside
Riverside, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gu, Weifeng — University of California Riverside
- Study coordinator: Gu, Weifeng
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.