Fixing DNA copying errors
Replication Fork Repair
['FUNDING_R01'] · BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY · NIH-11158821
Researchers are studying how cells fix problems that happen when DNA is copied to help future efforts against cancer and antibiotic-resistant infections.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (WALTHAM, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11158821 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
This project uses well-understood bacteria (E. coli) to learn how cells repair DNA when the copying machinery gets stuck. Scientists will study specific proteins (like YoaA and the SspA regulatory pathway) and how collisions between DNA copying and gene reading are resolved using genetic and biochemical experiments. The work aims to reveal basic mechanisms that link repair failure to genomic instability, cancer risk, and how bacteria survive antibiotics. Results are foundational knowledge that could guide new therapies or strategies over time.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People affected by cancer or by antibiotic-resistant infections are the populations most likely to benefit in the long term, though this project does not enroll patients now.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate new treatments or wanting to join a clinical trial should not expect direct benefit because this is laboratory research in bacteria.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could inform new ways to prevent or treat some cancers and to reduce antibiotic resistance by revealing how DNA repair works.
How similar studies have performed: Prior basic research on DNA repair has led to meaningful clinical advances (for example informing cancer drug strategies), but translating bacterial findings into patient therapies is a slow, stepwise process.
Where this research is happening
WALTHAM, UNITED STATES
- BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY — WALTHAM, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: LOVETT, SUSAN THOMAS — BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY
- Study coordinator: LOVETT, SUSAN THOMAS
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.
Conditions: Cancers