Finding gene versions that help cancers grow and resist treatment
Computational and functional discovery of isoforms driving cancer and drug resistance
This project looks for different versions of cancer genes and tests whether they make tumors grow or resist treatments, aiming to help people with lung and other cancers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Santa Cruz NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Santa Cruz, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11251243 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
The team will use long-read RNA sequencing on cancer cell lines and primary lung tumor samples to build a detailed catalog of full-length gene isoforms and allele-specific transcripts. They will search patient-derived tumor specimens and xenograft models for isoform variants linked to resistance or variable response to targeted drugs. High-throughput laboratory tests in cells and animal models will check which isoforms actually drive tumor growth or drug resistance. The overall aim is to find biomarkers and potential treatment targets that could guide therapy choices or help overcome resistance.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with lung cancer or other solid tumors who can provide tumor tissue samples or whose cancers are not responding to targeted therapies would be the best fit.
Not a fit: Healthy people or patients whose cancers do not involve the gene isoform changes being studied may not receive direct benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could reveal hidden gene variants that predict which targeted therapies will work and suggest new ways to overcome drug resistance.
How similar studies have performed: Smaller studies have shown isoform changes can affect cancer behavior, but combining long-read sequencing with large-scale functional screens is a relatively new approach.
Where this research is happening
Santa Cruz, United States
- University of California Santa Cruz — Santa Cruz, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Brooks, Angela Norie — University of California Santa Cruz
- Study coordinator: Brooks, Angela Norie
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 below.