How cells copy and repair DNA
The DNA replication-repair interface: mechanisms and regulation
Researchers are studying how human cells copy and fix their DNA to better understand causes of cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Vanderbilt University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Nashville, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11090946 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will determine the shapes and interactions of the multiprotein machines that copy and repair DNA. They will focus on three key activities: starting DNA synthesis (polymerase α–primase), reversing stalled replication forks, and repairing crosslinked DNA. To do this they will combine high-resolution structural mapping with biochemical tests and experiments in cells. That work is intended to explain how failures in these processes lead to genome instability and cancer.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients with cancer, especially those whose tumors show DNA-repair defects, could be eligible for future related studies or to donate tumor or blood samples.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate treatment benefit are unlikely to gain direct help from this lab-based research because it is not a clinical trial.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new targets for cancer treatments or diagnostics that detect DNA repair problems.
How similar studies have performed: Earlier studies of DNA repair have led to effective therapies such as PARP inhibitors, while this project uses novel structural and biochemical methods to study less-understood repair steps.
Where this research is happening
Nashville, UNITED STATES
- Vanderbilt University — Nashville, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Eichman, Brandt F — Vanderbilt University
- Study coordinator: Eichman, Brandt F
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.