Deciphering how BRCA1 and ATR work together to prevent genome instability in breast cancer
Official title: Deciphering functions of the ATR-METTL3-BRCA1 Axis in genome instability and Tumorigenesis
Funded at Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center · NIH-11324666 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A research project aims to understand how BRCA1, ATR, and METTL3 interact to keep DNA damage from causing cancer progression, with a focus on breast cancer cells.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Torrance, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,391,001 |
| NIH project number | 4R01CA288736-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11324666 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with BRCA1-mutated breast cancer or TNBC may be relevant for future therapeutic implications, especially if BRCA1-related repair mechanisms are targeted.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without BRCA1-related defects or those not impacted by the ATR-METTL3-BRCA1 axis may not experience direct benefits.
What this research studies
This project studies how defects in DNA repair lead to genome instability in breast cancer, especially BRCA1-related cases. Researchers will explore how the ATR-METTL3-BRCA1 pathway handles DNA damage at active genes and how this affects tumor development. The study uses cellular and molecular approaches to map how these proteins cooperate to repair DNA and respond to damage. By uncovering these mechanisms, the work could reveal new targets for therapies in BRCA1-mutated breast cancer.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: The findings could lead to new ways to treat BRCA1-mutated breast cancer by targeting the ATR-METTL3-BRCA1 pathway to improve DNA repair or sensitize tumors to existing therapies.
How similar studies have gone: Similar research has begun to map BRCA1-related repair pathways, with emerging evidence that these interactions influence treatment responses.
Where this research is happening
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Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center
Torrance, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wang, Hua — Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Wang, Hua
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.