DNA damage repair in cancer: how damaged DNA is identified and fixed
Official title: Structural Investigations Critical to Understanding DNA Damage Recognition and Repair in Cancer
Funded at University of Vermont & St Agric College · NIH-11416715 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A cancer-focused grant exploring how cells recognize and repair damaged DNA to understand why tumors form and how treatments work.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Vermont & St Agric College NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Burlington, United States) |
| Project start | September 21, 2018 |
| Project end | August 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $184,769 |
| NIH project number | 5R50CA233185-07 |
| Project ID | NIH-11416715 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with breast cancer or other cancers whose tumors involve DNA repair pathways may benefit from future applications of this research.
✕Less likely to help
Healthy individuals or patients whose cancers are not driven by DNA repair defects may see limited direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project uses biochemical, biophysical, and structural biology methods to study how DNA damage is detected and repaired in human cells, with a focus on enzymes involved in the repair process. It aims to reveal details about replication fidelity and how certain variants in the population may alter repair, potentially affecting cancer outcomes and treatment responses. The work is conducted through two NCI-funded programs and is centered on the DNA polymerase β enzyme and related repair steps. The findings could help predict cancer behavior and guide future therapeutic approaches.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: It could lead to better predictions of cancer progression and help tailor more effective treatments based on DNA repair mechanisms.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that DNA repair mechanisms influence cancer development and treatment response, supporting potential translational advances.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Vermont & St Agric College
Burlington, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Eckenroth, Brian E. — University of Vermont & St Agric College
- Study coordinator: Eckenroth, Brian E.
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.