3D atlas of pancreatic cancer development in people with BRCA-related DNA repair changes
Official title: An atlas of pancreatic tumorigenesis in the context of altered DNA repair occurring in high-risk individuals
Funded at Oregon Health & Science University · NIH-11180461 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will build a detailed 3D map of early pancreatic changes in people with BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene changes to help spot cancer sooner.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Oregon Health & Science University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Portland, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $4,014,885 |
| NIH project number | 4U01CA294548-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11180461 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are people with a family history of pancreatic cancer or known pathogenic BRCA1/BRCA2 variants who are willing to provide clinical samples or participate in surveillance.
✕Less likely to help
People without high-risk genetic changes or family history, and patients with already advanced pancreatic cancer, are unlikely to gain direct benefit from this project.
What this research studies
If you carry BRCA1/BRCA2 changes or have a family history, researchers will use surgical, biopsy, or banked pancreatic tissue and blood samples to study tiny pre-cancer lesions. They will combine high-resolution 3D imaging, single-cell and molecular analyses, and computational modeling to follow how low-grade PanIN lesions change into high-grade lesions and invasive cancer when DNA repair is altered. The team will assemble these data into a molecular and cellular atlas that shows stepwise changes in cells and tissue architecture. That atlas is meant to highlight potential early markers or targets for screening and interception in high-risk people.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could enable earlier detection and interception of pancreatic cancer in high-risk individuals, potentially improving survival.
How similar studies have gone: Related tissue atlases and 3D modeling have helped find early markers in other cancers, but applying these methods to PanIN progression in BRCA-deficient people is largely new.
Where this research is happening
-
Oregon Health & Science University
Portland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sears, Rosalie C — Oregon Health & Science University
- Study coordinator: Sears, Rosalie C
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.