Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The University of Washington received a $444,794 Project Grant from the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) under the Human Genome Research program (CFDA 93.172), with funding obligated on May 1, 2026 and a project completion date of April 30, 2028. This award supports research on the molecular characterization of nuclear body assembly and pathological misassembly, with a focus on understanding how three-dimensional nuclear architecture regulates genomic functions. The research will employ O-MAP, a novel RNA-targeted spatial-omics tool, to develop general-use methods for probing nuclear body architecture and dynamics in membraneless organelles such as nucleoli, nuclear speckles, and Cajal bodies.

The project addresses critical knowledge gaps regarding how nuclear bodies partition the genome into functionally distinct compartments that control core genomic functions including ribosome biogenesis, pre-mRNA splicing, and DNA repair. By establishing methods to characterize nuclear body molecular architecture, variation across cell types and disease states, and assembly dynamics over time, this research will advance understanding of dysregulation mechanisms implicated in neurodegenerative disorders and cancer. The research deliverables will include novel methodological approaches and characterization studies that contribute to the broader genomics research portfolio supported by NHGRI, which emphasizes development of genomic resources, technologies, and methods applicable to biomedical research and clinical translation.