# Remote-Control Mechano-Genetics and Epigenetics for Live Cell Manipulation

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO · 2020 · $287,963

## Abstract

Remote-Control Mechano-Genetics and Epigenetics for Live Cell Manipulation
It has been a long held dream for biomedical scientists to dynamically and precisely manipulate molecular
activities and cellular functions in distance. Our project aims to bring this dream one step closer to reality, by
engineering cellular mechano-sensors to convert the remote ultrasonic signal into intracellular molecular
signals, and by engineering genetic transduction modules (GTMs) to relay the molecular signals into
dynamically and precisely controlled genetic and epigenetic signals. This remote-controlled mechano-
genetics/epigenetics (ReCoM) technology should allow the live cell engineering and manipulation with high
spatiotemporal resolution. Our team has ample experience in ultrasound, biosensing, live cell imaging, and
molecular and cellular engineering technologies. We have already engineered a prototype ultrasound-
activatable cell. Here we propose to systematically develop and optimize the modularized ReCoM technology
in three steps: (1) Optimize mechano-sensors that can receive ultrasonic signals via micro-bubbles and
convert them into intracellular biochemical signals; (2) Engineer GTMs to relay these specific molecular
signals to genetic outputs; (3) Encode the GTMs with locus-specific genetic and epigenetic modulators to
allow the remote, dynamic, and precise control of cellular function and fate. This approach should allow the
remote-controlled genetic and epigenetic activation in live cells with a high spatiotemporal precision in a non-
invasive manner for therapeutic applications. The method should also provide a general approach to
dynamically control molecular and cellular functions for biological studies and clinical applications.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9938588
- **Project number:** 5R01GM126016-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO
- **Principal Investigator:** Yingxiao Wang
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $287,963
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-09-01 → 2021-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9938588

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9938588, Remote-Control Mechano-Genetics and Epigenetics for Live Cell Manipulation (5R01GM126016-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9938588. Licensed CC0.

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