eDyNAmiC: Targeting ecDNA in Cancer for Better Treatments
Official title: eDyNAmiC - NYU
Funded at New York University School of Medicine · NIH-11539603 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A Johns Hopkins-worthy cancer project at NYU aims to understand and tackle extrachromosomal DNA (ecDNA) that makes cancers more aggressive and harder to treat.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New York University School of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | June 24, 2022 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $575,935 |
| NIH project number | 3OT2CA278666-01S4 |
| Project ID | NIH-11539603 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with cancers known to harbor ecDNA, across multiple tumor types, who have progressed on standard therapies or are at risk of rapid disease evolution.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose tumors do not rely on ecDNA or who are treated with therapies that do not target ecDNA biology may not experience direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project focuses on ecDNA, circular DNA pieces that carry cancer-promoting genes and can make tumors more aggressive and resistant to therapy. A diverse, international team will study how ecDNA forms, moves, and changes gene regulation in cancer cells, with the goal of finding ways to target ecDNA-containing tumors. The work will combine laboratory studies with analyses of patient tumor samples to map ecDNA behavior and its impact on treatment response. If successful, findings could lead to new strategies to limit cancer evolution and improve patient outcomes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If the project succeeds, patients with ecDNA-containing cancers could have new therapeutic options that slow tumor evolution and improve survival.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work has established ecDNA as a driver of cancer aggressiveness, with growing evidence that targeting ecDNA pathways could improve outcomes.
Where this research is happening
-
New York University School of Medicine
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Boeke, Jef D — New York University School of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Boeke, Jef D
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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.