eDyNAmiC: Understanding and Targeting ecDNA in Cancer
Official title: eDyNAmiC - JACKSONLAB
Funded at Yale University · NIH-11539608 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A Yale-led project will study circular extrachromosomal DNA in cancers to understand how it drives aggressive tumors and how it might be targeted for better treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Yale University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Haven, United States) |
| Project start | June 24, 2022 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $472,244 |
| NIH project number | 3OT2CA278649-02S3 |
| Project ID | NIH-11539608 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients whose tumors contain ecDNA or who have cancer types known to frequently harbor ecDNA may be eligible for future studies or tissue samples.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with cancers not driven by ecDNA or without access to ecDNA-related analyses may not benefit directly.
What this research studies
This project brings together researchers from multiple disciplines to study extrachromosomal DNA (ecDNA) in cancer. We will map how ecDNA forms, how it changes cancer gene expression, and how these circular DNA pieces help tumors evolve and resist treatment. By analyzing patient tumor samples and model systems, the team aims to identify vulnerabilities in ecDNA-driven cancers that could be targeted with new therapies. The work will explore how ecDNA interacts with the immune system and influences disease progression, with the goal of translating findings into strategies to improve survival for patients with ecDNA-containing cancers.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could reveal new ways to treat highly aggressive cancers by targeting ecDNA and its genome-evolving behavior.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has shown ecDNA is linked to aggressive cancer and treatment resistance, supporting the potential of this approach, though effective ecDNA-targeted therapies are still under development.
Where this research is happening
-
Yale University
New Haven, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Verhaak, Roel Gw — Yale University
- Study coordinator: Verhaak, Roel Gw
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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.