Using advanced laser technology to analyze genes in individual cells
Official title: Smart Laser Capturing Microscope for Genome Wide Single Cell Spatial Transcriptomics
Funded at University of California-Irvine · NIH-11029263 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new way to look closely at individual cells in tissues to understand how their genes work, which could help improve treatments for diseases by giving us better insights into how cells behave.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California-Irvine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Irvine, United States) |
| Project start | January 8, 2025 |
| Project end | December 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $289,900 |
| NIH project number | 1R01HG014004-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11029263 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with conditions that involve complex cellular interactions, such as cancer or neurological disorders.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with conditions that do not involve significant cellular heterogeneity or spatial gene expression may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a new method called AI-Assisted Laser Capture Microdissection (AI-LCM) to study the genetic material of individual cells in their specific locations within tissues. By combining advanced microscopy with next-generation sequencing, the approach aims to provide detailed insights into how genes are expressed in different cells. Patients may benefit from this research as it could lead to better understanding and treatment of diseases at the cellular level, particularly in complex conditions where cell behavior is crucial. The methodology involves tagging DNA nanoballs with unique identifiers to ensure accurate mapping of genetic information to specific cells.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to breakthroughs in understanding diseases by providing detailed genetic profiles of individual cells in their natural environments.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using advanced imaging and sequencing techniques for cellular analysis, indicating that this approach could be a significant advancement in the field.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California-Irvine
Irvine, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cang, Hu — University of California-Irvine
- Study coordinator: Cang, Hu
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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.