DNA repair enzymes: how polymerases shape end-joining in cancer-related DNA breaks
Official title: Revealing DNA Polymerase Molecular Strategies in End-Joining Double Strand Break Repair
Funded at Univ of Arkansas for Med Scis · NIH-11427914 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A patient-facing description of a research project that looks at how DNA repair enzymes handle damaged breaks in cancer-related cells to keep genomes stable.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| 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 | August 1, 2026 |
| Project end | March 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $420,750 |
| NIH project number | 1R35GM165917-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11427914 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not applicable to patients directly; this is a basic science study using cellular models relevant to cancer.
✕Less likely to help
No direct patient benefit is expected from participation in this study.
What this research studies
This project will investigate how specific DNA repair proteins work at the tiny ends of broken DNA to decide which repair path to use, especially when the DNA is damaged by oxidative stress. By watching these enzymes at the atomic level, researchers hope to understand why some repair choices lead to mutations and cancer. The study uses advanced imaging and biochemistry techniques to map how polymerases and nucleases process damaged ends during nonhomologous end joining. The findings could point to new ways to protect genome integrity in cancer and aging.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Knowledge gained could inform future strategies to prevent mutations that drive cancer and age-related diseases.
How similar studies have gone: Other studies have shown that polymerases influence the outcomes of DNA end-joining, but exact atomic-level mechanisms remain actively investigated.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of Arkansas for Med Scis
Little Rock, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jamsen, Joonas — Univ of Arkansas for Med Scis
- Study coordinator: Jamsen, Joonas
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.