# Center for Sub-Cellular Genomics

> **NIH NIH RM1** · UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA · 2020 · $2,000,000

## Abstract

A cell is a highly complex system with distributed molecular physiologies in structured sub-
cellular compartments whose interplay with the nuclear genome determine the functional
characteristics of the cell. A classic example of distributed genomic processes is found in
neurons. Learning and memory requires modulation of individual synapses through RNA
localization, localized translation, and localized metabolites such as those from dendritic
mitochondria. Dendrites of neurons integrate distributed synaptic signals into both electrical and
nuclear transcriptional response. Dysfunction of these distributed genomic functions in neurons
can result in a broad spectrum of neuropsychiatric diseases such as bipolar and depressive
disorders, autism, among others.
Understanding complex genomic interactions within a single cell requires new technologies: we
need nano-scale ability to make genome-wide measurements at highly localized compartments
and to effect highly localized functional genomic manipulations, especially in live tissues. To
address this need, we propose to establish a Center for Sub-Cellular Genomics using neurons
as model systems. The center will develop new optical and nanotechnology approaches to
isolate sub-cellular scale components for genomic, metabolomics, and lipidomic analyses. The
center will also develop new mass spectrometry methods, molecular biology methods, and
informatics models to create a platform technology for sub-cellular genomics.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9973075
- **Project number:** 5RM1HG010023-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
- **Principal Investigator:** JAMES H EBERWINE
- **Activity code:** RM1 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $2,000,000
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-09-01 → 2023-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9973075

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9973075, Center for Sub-Cellular Genomics (5RM1HG010023-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9973075. Licensed CC0.

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