The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) has received a $729,821 Project Grant award from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) under the Mental Health Research Grants (CFDA 93.242) program. The grant, which runs from February 1, 2025 to January 31, 2026, will support UAB's research on the role of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in the pathogenesis of major depressive disorder (MDD). The study aims to investigate how lncRNA-mediated regulation of 3D chromatin organization and transcriptional repatterning in specific brain cell types contribute to MDD. Using innovative approaches, the research will examine global shifts in the lncRNA transcriptome, cell type-specific changes in 3D chromatin conformation, the interaction of lncRNAs with chromatin modifiers, and the impact on gene expression and functional responses in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus of MDD patients. If successful, the findings could provide new avenues for developing lncRNA-based therapeutic interventions for mental health disorders.
Generated 3/4/25, 4:45 AM