The Clement Lab has been awarded an NIH R35 grant starting August 1, 2026!
Over the next five years, this funding will support our research program in creating accessible, robust, and reproducible computational and statistical tools to overcome barriers in measuring and interpreting CRISPR genome editing outcomes.
Project Abstract
CRISPR genome editing enables the introduction of precise changes to DNA sequence, fueling the discovery of fundamental biological mechanisms and opening opportunities for personalized, permanent therapies. However, realizing its full potential requires accurate and reproducible measurement of editing outcomes. Current analytic methods often fail to capture rare unexpected events, large genomic changes, or cell-type-specific effects that are critical for both basic research and clinical safety. Importantly, these challenges cannot be solved by experimental methods alone, but demand new computational innovation.
Over the next five years, my research will develop computational and statistical tools to overcome these barriers and improve reproducibility in analysis. First, I will create algorithms that quantify complex editing outcomes across diverse editor types, improving on approaches that miss unexpected editing byproducts or yield irreproducible results. Second, I will establish statistical standards and frameworks for comparing editing across sites and experiments, providing reproducible ways to assess performance and detect rare off-target events. Third, I will design tools to harness long-read sequencing, which uniquely captures large insertions, deletions, and rearrangements missed by short reads. Together, these advances will transform how genome editing data are measured, interpreted, and compared.
The vision of my program is to create accessible, robust, and reproducible computational tools that enable the development of safer, more effective gene editing technologies for use in research and clinical applications. Drawing on my training in computer science, bioinformatics, epigenetics, and a proven record of developing widely used CRISPR analysis software, I am uniquely positioned to lead this effort. Ultimately, this research will yield tools that will enable both fundamental insights into cellular processes and accelerate the development of safe, precise, and effective therapeutic applications.
