Define how DNA damage leads to unexplained cancer mutations
Official title: WP2 - Define and Synthesize
Funded at Harvard University · NIH-11506673 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A research project is exploring how DNA damage from everyday biology and the environment creates cancer-related mutation patterns, to better understand cancer causes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Harvard University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cambridge, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2026 |
| Project end | April 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,026,470 |
| NIH project number | 1OT2CA320062-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11506673 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not applicable at this stage; this is a mechanistic study of cancer biology.
✕Less likely to help
No direct patient participation is required for this stage of the research.
What this research studies
This project looks at how chemical changes to DNA, from everyday biology and environmental exposures, leave signatures in cancer genomes. It will combine AI analysis with lab tests to map which DNA adducts cause specific mutational patterns. The goal is to connect real DNA damage events to the mutation fingerprints seen in tumors, potentially guiding future prevention and therapies. Participants would not be required to join a trial yet, but the work rests on understanding human cancer biology and the factors that drive it.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could clarify how certain DNA damages lead to cancer, informing prevention and new treatment strategies.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has linked some mutational signatures to DNA damage, but many remain unexplained, making this approach novel and potentially impactful.
Where this research is happening
-
Harvard University
Cambridge, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Balskus, Emily Patricia — Harvard University
- Study coordinator: Balskus, Emily Patricia
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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.