DNA helicases: How these molecular motors are turned on and off in cancer and aging
Official title: DNA helicases: Mechanisms and Regulation
Funded at Univ of Arkansas for Med Scis · NIH-11425515 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A NIH grant aims to understand how DNA helicases, tiny machines that help copy and repair DNA, are controlled and how their misregulation can lead to cancer, aging, and neurological diseases.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of Arkansas for Med Scis NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Little Rock, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,455,158 |
| NIH project number | 1R01GM165736-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11425515 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not a patient-involving study; outcomes may inform future translational research and therapies for individuals with cancer or aging-related conditions.
✕Less likely to help
This grant does not involve direct patient participation or trials.
What this research studies
This project studies the molecular switches that regulate helicases, including how phosphorylation and protein partners modulate their activity during the cell cycle and under stress. Researchers will map how helicases interact in multiprotein complexes and how these interactions change when DNA is damaged or cells are aging. The work will use molecular, biochemical, and cell-based approaches to uncover the signals that turn helicase activity up or down. Understanding these controls could reveal new targets to maintain genome stability and prevent cancer and aging-related problems.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Better understanding of DNA repair mechanisms could lead to new strategies to prevent cancer and age-related diseases.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows that helicases are tightly regulated and mutations contribute to disease, suggesting this line of inquiry could yield meaningful insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of Arkansas for Med Scis
Little Rock, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Byrd, Alicia K. — Univ of Arkansas for Med Scis
- Study coordinator: Byrd, Alicia K.
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.