Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The University of California, Berkeley received a $617,574 Project Grant award dated March 9, 2026, from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences under the Biomedical Research and Research Training program (CFDA 93.859). The award supports research into site-specific non-long terminal repeat (non-LTR) retrotransposon mechanisms of mobility and transgene insertion, with a project completion date of February 28, 2030. The research focuses on understanding how reverse transcriptases from non-LTR retrotransposons insert DNA sequences into animal genomes and developing therapeutic applications through a method termed PRINT (Precise RNA-Mediated Insertion of Transgenes).

The grant funds fundamental biochemical and biophysical research investigating the mechanisms by which retrotransposon proteins achieve site-specific insertion of transgenes at safe-harbor ribosomal DNA loci in the human genome. Research deliverables include advancing understanding of second-strand DNA synthesis mechanisms necessary for completing gene insertion and developing improved transgene insertion methodologies with potential applications in gene therapy. The research employs biochemistry, biophysical approaches, cryo-electron microscopy, and native retrotransposon insertion assays to elucidate molecular mechanisms and validate findings with direct applications to genome engineering and therapeutic development.