Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The National Institute of General Medical Sciences awarded a $396,886 Project Grant to the Regents of the University of California at Riverside on March 15, 2026, under the Biomedical Research and Research Training program (CFDA 93.859). This award funds research through February 28, 2030, to develop enabling technology for comprehensive characterization of human proteoforms—the functionally active protein species that include genetic sequences, post-translational modifications, alternative splicing variants, and chemical modifications. The research will produce novel photoactivated chemical modifiers and associated mass spectrometry methodologies to enable selective, rational fragmentation of proteoforms at targeted residues within mass spectrometers. This selective-dissociation approach advances beyond existing random fragmentation methods by generating synthetic modifications that create controlled weak links in protein backbone chains, facilitating precise identification of functionally significant differences such as modification location variations that distinguish protein isomers.

The deliverables from this project include both synthetic innovations in photoactivated modifier chemistry and advances in mass spectrometry analytical capabilities. These research outputs are intended to significantly improve proteoform characterization precision and ultimately contribute to development of a comprehensive human proteoform atlas, providing foundational knowledge for understanding cellular processes underlying both health and disease. The project represents fundamental basic research that increases understanding of biological processes and supports the National Institute of General Medical Sciences' mission to advance disease diagnosis, treatment, and prevention through enhanced characterization of active biological species.