# Droplet microfluidic technology for single-cell epigenomic and multi-omic profiling

> **NIH NIH R01** · VIRGINIA POLYTECHNIC INST AND ST UNIV · 2024 · $302,055

## Abstract

Project Summary
Single-cell genome-wide profiling enabled by next-generation sequencing (NGS) has been fundamentally
changing how molecular biology is studied. Cells are basic unit of life and profiling each individual cell
provides the most accurate and precise characterization of tissue samples that likely contain numerous diverse
cell types and subpopulations. In this project, we will develop high-throughput and high-quality single-cell
technologies based on droplet microfluidics for mapping genome-wide histone modifications and conducting
multi-omic profiling that integrates epigenomic and transcriptomic analyses. Our single-cell ChIP-seq and multi-
omic technology will allow massive number of cells to be examined rapidly. Furthermore, by using drastically
simplified molecular biology and microfluidic technology, our scChIP-seq will produce significantly improved
genome coverage. Our multi-omic profiling will allow integrative analysis of epigenomic and transcriptomic
features and establishment of correlations between gene regulation and expression for precise understanding
of cell type, fate and potential at the single cell level. As a proof-of-principle, we will apply these technologies to
examine the effects of psychedelic drug on mouse brain biology. Brain is the most complex organ that exhibit
enormous heterogeneity and complexity in terms of the cell types and subpopulations involved and studies of
brain neuroscience will benefit from the single-cell approach tremendously. By the end of this 4-year project,
we will push these technologies to maturity for tissue-based studies with real biomedical relevance.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10847445
- **Project number:** 5R01GM143940-08
- **Recipient organization:** VIRGINIA POLYTECHNIC INST AND ST UNIV
- **Principal Investigator:** Chang Lu
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $302,055
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2014-04-01 → 2025-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10847445

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10847445, Droplet microfluidic technology for single-cell epigenomic and multi-omic profiling (5R01GM143940-08). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10847445. Licensed CC0.

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