Federal Project Grant Award Summary

Northwestern University received a $440,000 Project Grant award from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences under the Biomedical Research and Research Training program (CFDA 93.859), effective March 12, 2026 through February 28, 2031. The award supports fundamental research investigating the regulatory roles of noncoding ribonucleic acids (ncRNAs), specifically a newly identified class called downstream-of-gene (DOG) RNAs, in gene expression and cellular stress responses.

The research deliverables encompass investigation of the molecular mechanisms underlying DOG RNA biogenesis, processing, and function in transcriptional stress responses and cellular homeostasis. Using advanced genomic, biochemical, and computational methodologies including PRO-Seq (Precision Run-On sequencing), RNA-Seq, and ChIP-Seq (Chromatin Immunoprecipitation sequencing), the project will elucidate how DOG RNAs regulate chromatin accessibility, transcriptional dynamics, and three-dimensional genome organization. The anticipated research outcomes include novel insights into ncRNA-mediated gene regulation mechanisms and identification of potential therapeutic targets for restoring transcriptional homeostasis in diseases such as cancer where transcriptional dysregulation is central to pathogenesis. The research will be conducted at Northwestern University's Chicago, Illinois facility.