Using gene activity patterns to find potential new medicines
virtual compound screening using gene expression
This project uses computer-based gene activity patterns to look for chemicals that could become treatments for diseases such as COVID-19 and neurological conditions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Michigan State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (East Lansing, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11092251 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From my perspective as a patient, the researchers use large sets of gene activity data and advanced machine learning to predict how different chemicals change gene expression. They aim to turn those predictions into a virtual screen so they can pick promising molecules from huge chemical libraries without testing each one in the lab first. Promising candidates will then be taken forward for laboratory testing and lead optimization by the team. The project builds on prior work that linked drug-induced gene changes to efficacy and extends it to screen novel compounds at scale.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This project does not run a patient treatment trial, but people with conditions the team studies (for example COVID-19 or certain brain disorders) could be relevant if the team later seeks patient samples or participants for follow-up studies.
Not a fit: People looking for immediate medical treatment are unlikely to benefit directly because this is computational and early-stage drug discovery work rather than a clinical treatment trial.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could speed up finding new or repurposed medicines and shorten the time it takes for lab-tested candidates to reach clinical testing.
How similar studies have performed: Related gene-expression-based drug-repurposing efforts have previously suggested candidate drugs, but using predicted gene-expression profiles for large-scale novel compound screening is newer and less tested.
Where this research is happening
East Lansing, United States
- Michigan State University — East Lansing, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chen, Bin — Michigan State University
- Study coordinator: Chen, Bin
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 below.