How BET proteins control gene reading and DNA copying in cancer
Official title: Regulation of gene transcription and DNA replication by chromatin readers from the BET family
Funded at Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation · NIH-11384819 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant studies how specific chromatin readers called BET proteins help coordinate when genes are read and when DNA is copied, aiming to understand how disruptions can lead to cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Oklahoma City, United States) |
| Project start | August 8, 2025 |
| Project end | May 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $468,875 |
| NIH project number | 5R35GM160259-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11384819 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are patients with cancers where BET proteins are implicated or where genome instability is a driving factor, for future translational studies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with cancers not related to BET pathways or replication stress may not benefit from this basic mechanistic work.
What this research studies
If funded, researchers will explore how BET proteins regulate the timing of DNA replication origins while also controlling transcription in cells. They will build on prior work showing BET involvement in replication initiation and investigate the mechanisms coordinating transcription and replication. The project will use cellular and molecular biology approaches to map interactions, timing, and responses to replication stress. The findings could reveal targets to reduce genome instability seen in cancers.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Gaining new targets and strategies to prevent or treat cancers driven by genome instability.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have linked BET proteins to transcription regulation and replication stress, suggesting potential translational relevance, though detailed mechanisms are still being defined.
Where this research is happening
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Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation
Oklahoma City, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Donczew, Rafal — Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation
- Study coordinator: Donczew, Rafal
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.