# High throughput CRISPR-mediated functional validation of regulatory elements

> **NIH NIH UM1** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO · 2021 · $1,571,946

## Abstract

Project Summary
The overarching goal of the proposed study is to functionally characterize a large number of candidate
functional elements in the mammalian genome. The ENCODE projects have revealed millions of putative
regulatory elements across more than one hundred cell types and tissues. While these maps have significantly
expanded our knowledge of non-coding sequences, there are still large gaps between having descriptive maps
of functional elements and understanding the biology of these elements underlying gene regulation. These
include: (a) few candidate functional elements predicted by the ENCODE experiments are functionally
validated; (b) Epigenomic studies have not given/revealed information on the target genes of candidate
functional elements. Therefore, it is still a challenge to interpret the biological functions of non-coding DNA
sequences. To address these issues, the objective of this UM1 application is to perform large scale functional
characterization of candidate functional elements in their native chromatin context. We will first identify
candidate regulatory elements utilizing ENCODE data and generate reporter tagged genes of interest in cell
lines utilizing a high throughput, automated platform. Second, we will interrogate candidate functional elements
in their native chromatin contexts utilizing two complementary high throughput CRIPSR/Cas9 mediated
genome editing approaches. We anticipate these analyses will significantly advance our knowledge of the
biological functions of candidate regulatory regions and gene regulation in mammalian cells.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10240102
- **Project number:** 3UM1HG009402-04S1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO
- **Principal Investigator:** Bing Ren
- **Activity code:** UM1 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $1,571,946
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2021-02-01 → 2022-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10240102

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10240102, High throughput CRISPR-mediated functional validation of regulatory elements (3UM1HG009402-04S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-21 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10240102. Licensed CC0.

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