The National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) awarded a $429,000 Project Grant (CFDA 93.859 - Biomedical Research and Research Training) to Thomas Jefferson University, doing business as Sidney Kimmel Medical College, to conduct research on the biogenesis and functions of cyclic phosphate-containing short non-coding RNAs (CP-RNAs). The research aims to:
Perform a genome-wide expression analysis of short CP-RNAs across various cells and tissues to determine that they are generated through regulated biogenesis pathways, constitute a significant portion of short non-coding RNAs, and have expression levels regulated by factors like hormone signaling, aging, stress, and infection.
Characterize the roles of newly discovered enzymes and proteins involved in the regulation of CP-RNA expression and investigate the functional significance of CP-RNAs in processes like piRNA biogenesis, mRNA stability, and immune response.
The grant award, which runs from February 2025 through December 2029, supports the university's efforts to advance the understanding of CP-RNA biology and its implications for human health and disease.