Creating a new model using hen's eggs to test for DNA damage from chemicals
Official title: Development of a Comprehensive Hen's Egg Model for Genotoxicity Testing
Funded at Litron Laboratories, LTD. · NIH-11006886 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is creating a new way to test if certain medicines and chemicals can harm DNA, using hen's eggs instead of animals, to help us better understand cancer risks and keep people safe.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Litron Laboratories, LTD. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Rochester, United States) |
| Project start | August 10, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $295,734 |
| NIH project number | 1R44ES036902-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11006886 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals concerned about the safety of pharmaceuticals and chemicals they may be exposed to.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not affected by or do not use pharmaceuticals or industrial chemicals may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research aims to develop a hen's egg model that can effectively assess the genotoxicity of various pharmaceuticals and industrial chemicals. By mimicking human physiological responses, this model seeks to evaluate the potential of these substances to damage DNA, which is crucial for understanding cancer risks. The approach focuses on creating a non-animal testing system that retains metabolic activity, allowing for a more accurate representation of how these chemicals may affect human health. This innovative method could replace traditional animal testing, which is increasingly being restricted.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to safer chemical assessments and reduce reliance on animal testing in toxicology.
How similar studies have gone: While there have been advancements in non-animal testing methods, this specific approach using hen's eggs is relatively novel and untested.
Where this research is happening
-
Litron Laboratories, LTD.
Rochester, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Briggs, Erica — Litron Laboratories, LTD.
- Study coordinator: Briggs, Erica
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Understanding how DNA repair blockers change chemical toxicity in people
Researchers are testing how damage from chemicals might affect people differently by using human cells and DNA repair inhibitors to model sensitive individuals.
-
Why some people are more sensitive to DNA‑damaging chemicals
This project tests whether blocking different DNA repair pathways in human cells can mimic people who are unusually sensitive to chemicals that damage DNA.
-
Understanding how sensitive populations respond to DNA-damaging chemicals
This study is looking at how different people, especially those who are more sensitive to DNA damage, react to certain chemicals that can harm our DNA, with the goal of developing a quick test to help predict which chemicals might be risky for our health.
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.