Federal Project Grant Award Summary

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) received a $440,465 Project Grant from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) under the Biomedical Research and Research Training program (CFDA 93.859), effective July 1, 2026, through February 28, 2031. The award supports fundamental biophysical research aimed at understanding chromosome architecture and its mechanisms—specifically motor-driven loop extrusion and affinity-driven compartmentalization—and how these processes enable cells to read and store genetic and epigenetic information.

Under this award, MIT researchers will develop and apply polymer models integrated with experimental data to elucidate the operational principles of loop extrusion on DNA, establish mechanistic understanding of enhancer-gene targeting and transcription activation, and investigate how epigenetic cellular identity is maintained or deteriorates with aging and disease. The research deliverables include advanced computational models, mechanistic insights into genome-folding processes, and fundamental knowledge regarding the interplay between loop extrusion and compartmentalization in developmental programs and disease pathogenesis. This basic research initiative contributes to NIGMS's mission of supporting scientific discoveries that advance understanding of biological processes and establish foundations for advances in disease diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.