Developing inhibitors for harmful DNA enzymes linked to cancer mutations
Official title: Inhibition and Catalytic Degradation of Promutagenic DNA Deaminases
Funded at University of Pennsylvania · NIH-10883650 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at ways to block certain enzymes that can cause harmful changes in DNA, which are linked to cancer, and aims to create tools that could help reduce these changes in cancer cells, potentially leading to new treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | July 6, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $216,512 |
| NIH project number | 5R21CA277463-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10883650 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with cancers that exhibit specific mutational signatures linked to APOBEC enzymes.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose cancers do not involve the mutational processes driven by APOBEC enzymes may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on creating specific inhibitors to counteract the damaging effects of certain DNA deaminase enzymes, which can lead to mutations in the genome associated with various cancers. By understanding how these enzymes work and their role in mutagenesis, the researchers aim to design effective molecular tools that can inhibit or degrade these enzymes in cells. This could potentially reduce the mutational burden in cancer cells, offering a new avenue for therapeutic intervention. The study utilizes advanced molecular biology techniques to explore the mechanisms of these enzymes and develop targeted inhibitors.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatments that reduce cancer mutations and improve patient outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: While the approach of targeting DNA deaminases is relatively novel, there is growing interest and preliminary success in similar strategies aimed at reducing mutagenesis in cancer.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kohli, Rahul Manu — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Kohli, Rahul Manu
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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.