Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) awarded a Maximizing Investigators' Research Award (MIRA) totaling $495,480 to the University of Colorado Boulder, with performance occurring in Boulder, Colorado. The award, effective April 3, 2026, and concluding December 31, 2030, supports investigator-initiated research under the Biomedical Research and Research Training program (CFDA 93.859). Under the direction of Dr. Deborah Wuttke, the project unifies two complementary research areas focused on understanding multi-layer regulatory networks that control gene expression and cellular homeostasis through nucleic acid-mediated mechanisms.

The primary research deliverables include fundamental discoveries regarding the non-canonical recognition of ribonucleic acid (RNA) by DNA-binding transcription factors and the management of single-stranded DNA by replication protein A (RPA) type factors. The project employs biochemically validated separation-of-function mutants to independently disrupt either RNA- or DNA-binding activity in cellular systems, with mechanistic investigation conducted through integrated transcriptomics analysis and single-molecule imaging. Secondary research components address telomere structure and chromosome stability, with the overarching impact aimed at elucidating the roles of genome-wide pervasive transcription and its influence on diverse cellular processes. These research activities are expected to yield fundamental scientific advances in understanding biological regulatory mechanisms applicable to disease diagnosis and treatment development.