Health Relevance

What Is the 4DN Program Doing to Improve Health?

The 4D Nucleome (4DN) Program is exploring the 3D organization of the DNA in the nucleus and how the organization changes over time (the fourth dimension). Exploring the 4D organization of DNA requires developing new tools to observe differences in the organization of DNA between different cells and how the organization in the nucleus of a single cell changes over time. Understanding the dynamic 4D organization of DNA will help researchers determine how changes in nuclear organization affect which genes are turned on and off and how abnormal nuclear organization interrupts cell development and function to cause human disease. The 4DN Program is working to allow the biomedical research community to identify new targets for treatment of human diseases that are caused by abnormal nuclear organization. The 4DN program is a trans-NIH effort managed by the NIH Common Fund in the Office of the Director and supported by NCI, NIDDK, NIGMS, CSR, NIA, NHGRI, NHLBI, NIAAA, NINDS, NIDA, NIMH, and NIEHS.