Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The University of Pennsylvania received a $446,875 Project Grant from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) under the Biomedical Research and Research Training program (CFDA 93.859), awarded on April 6, 2026, with a completion date of December 31, 2030. This five-year research initiative focuses on elucidating the mechanisms and roles of RNA editing and sensing in RNA-mediated immune regulation. The project aims to advance understanding of how adenosine-to-inosine (A-to-I) RNA editing, catalyzed by the ADAR1 enzyme, regulates the recognition of endogenous double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs) by the MDA5 immune sensor and how genetic variants affecting RNA editing contribute to common human immune diseases.

The research deliverables include the development of new investigative tools, including tiling base-editor screens, designed to identify the regulatory mechanisms underlying RNA editing and sensing processes. The project will elucidate how RNA editing neutralizes the immunogenicity of various endogenous dsRNA species and clarify the pathogenic mechanisms by which erroneous RNA sensing leads to inflammation and immune disease. The research is being conducted at the University of Pennsylvania's facility in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and contributes to NIGMS's mission of supporting fundamental biomedical research that establishes the foundation for advances in disease diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.