Chromosomal organization and DNA repair in the malaria parasite (Plasmodium falciparum)
Official title: Chromosomal Organization and DNA Repair Mechanisms in Plasmodium falciparum: Implications for Antigenic Variation and Maintenance of Genome Integrity
Funded at Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ · NIH-11465781 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are studying how the malaria parasite fixes DNA breaks to understand how it stays dangerous and adaptable.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | August 11, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $870,131 |
| NIH project number | 1R01AI197390-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11465781 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not applicable to patient participation in this basic science grant.
✕Less likely to help
No direct patient participation or benefit in this basic science project.
What this research studies
This project will explore how Plasmodium falciparum repairs double-strand DNA breaks, focusing on how repair choices influence genetic variation in virulence factors. The study will compare repair responses at different parts of the parasite’s chromosomes and identify the pathways used when a template is available or when it isn’t. By mapping these repair mechanisms, researchers hope to explain how the parasite maintains genome integrity while evolving traits that help it evade the immune system. The work uses human malaria parasite models to uncover fundamental biology that could inform future treatments or interventions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Understanding these repair processes could lead to new strategies to limit parasite adaptability and virulence, potentially informing vaccines or therapies.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has shown that malaria parasites have unique DNA repair pathways that influence genome variation, but this project aims to define them more precisely.
Where this research is happening
-
Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kirkman, Laura — Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ
- Study coordinator: Kirkman, Laura
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.