CRISPRa induced expression of native MRI reporter proteins

The project focuses on leveraging CRISPR activation (CRISPRa) technology to induce expression of endogenous genes that can function as MRI reporters. Rather than introducing entirely foreign reporter constructs, the CRISPRa approach aims to upregulate native proteins whose biochemical or biophysical properties could provide MRI contrast, thereby creating a reporter system rooted in the host biology. This project enables integration with the lab's expertise in engineered protein transporters and multimodal contrast agent development; such integration can help bridge molecular biology techniques with translational imaging applications. The laboratory's broader goals, understanding processes such as stem cell transplantation and migration, cancer diagnostics and therapy, liver pathology, and the behavior of tissue-engineered scaffolds, underscore multiple potential applications for inducible endogenous MRI reporters, from tracking therapeutic cells to monitoring disease progression or scaffold integration.

Methodologically, the work aligns with the group's strengths in molecular imaging and genome editing as reflected in service core collaborations like the Transgenic and Genome Editing Facility and the Advanced Molecular Imaging Facility. CRISPRa-based modulation of native gene expression can be explored in vitro and in relevant in vivo models, with MRI and complementary imaging modalities used to assess reporter performance, specificity, and sensitivity. The project's conceptual emphasis on endogenous reporters may offer advantages in reducing immunogenicity and improving physiological relevance compared with exogenous reporter constructs. Additionally, the lab's commitment to artificial intelligence image analysis supports rigorous quantification and interpretation of imaging signals that emerge from induced reporter expression.