Federal Grant Award Summary

The National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) awarded Columbia University's Health Sciences Division a Project Grant of $3.24M under the Human Genome Research program (CFDA 93.172) for research on computational and experimental approaches to decode domain-specific protein-RNA interactions. The four-year project, initiated April 1, 2026 and concluding March 31, 2030, addresses a critical gap in understanding how RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) regulate gene expression post-transcriptionally. The research focuses on developing new methodologies to delineate the specificity of individual RNA-binding domains (RBDs) within multi-domain RBPs, which comprise approximately half of all human RBPs. Current CLIP-seq and variant technologies provide sparse coverage of RBP binding sites but cannot distinguish binding specificity at the individual domain level, limiting the interpretation of genetic variants and their functional significance.

The project deliverables include the development of two complementary experimental and computational strategies designed to overcome current technological limitations in mapping protein-RNA interactions with domain-level resolution. These methodologies will enhance the ability to predict binding site specificity, interpret functional impacts of genetic variants in noncoding genomic regions, and advance understanding of post-transcriptional gene regulation mechanisms. The research aligns with NHGRI's mission to support development of genomic resources, technologies, and methods applicable to biomedical research, as well as to advance genomic applications in clinical care and precision medicine.