Federal Grant Award Summary

This five-year Project Grant, awarded by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) under the Biomedical Research and Research Training program (CFDA 93.859), provides $431,750 in federal funding to Rutgers The State University of New Jersey (RBHS-School of Nursing) to investigate the mechanisms and functional consequences of internal N7-methylguanosine (M7G) modifications in messenger RNA. The research, which commenced July 10, 2026 and will conclude June 30, 2031, directly addresses fundamental gaps in understanding how this recently discovered RNA modification regulates gene expression and contributes to human disease processes. The grant supports basic biomedical research aimed at elucidating three core research objectives: determining how internal M7G is installed in cellular RNA, mapping transcriptome-wide M7G distribution to identify affected messenger RNAs, and defining the functional consequences of internal M7G on RNA metabolism including splicing, translation, and downstream cellular responses.

The award leverages preliminary findings showing that viral N7-methyltransferases provide unique experimental models for studying internal M7G biology—an approach designed to overcome existing technical and conceptual barriers that have hindered progress in the field. The grant positions the research institution to advance fundamental understanding of RNA modification mechanisms, which has broad implications for human health and disease prevention strategies. As a division of a major research university with extensive National Institutes of Health funding relationships and translational research infrastructure, Rutgers' RBHS-School of Nursing will conduct this investigator-initiated research in Newark, New Jersey.