Finding hidden DNA switches that drive breast cancer
Computational and experimental methods for scalable identification of oncogenic non-coding regions
Researchers will use blood samples and lab gene-editing to find small DNA control regions that help breast tumors grow or resist treatment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11310830 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If I have metastatic breast cancer, researchers would use my blood to sequence cell-free DNA and look for patterns that mark active regulatory DNA regions. They will build computer tools to map these 'enhancers' across many patients and create a catalogue of sites that may drive tumor growth or treatment resistance. In the lab they will turn these enhancers on or off using CRISPR-based tools in different breast cell lines to see which changes affect tumor growth. The goal is to identify targets that could guide future tests or therapies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people with metastatic, treatment-resistant breast cancer who can provide blood samples for cell-free DNA sequencing.
Not a fit: People with only early-stage breast cancer or those unable or unwilling to give blood or biopsy samples are unlikely to directly benefit from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new molecular targets for treatments or tests that detect resistant disease earlier.
How similar studies have performed: Related methods like cfDNA nucleosome profiling and CRISPR enhancer screens have shown promise in early research, but combining them to map oncogenic non-coding regions in breast cancer is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Khurana, Ekta — Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ
- Study coordinator: Khurana, Ekta
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.