How cells pick the best way to fix damaged DNA
Probing the mechanisms that control DNA repair pathway choice
This project looks at how changes in cell state and nuclear components affect the ways cells fix DNA damage, with relevance for cancer and other diseases tied to DNA repair problems.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11504245 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You should know that this work studies how chromatin (the way DNA is packaged) and nuclear RNAs influence which DNA repair pathway a cell uses. The team will use mouse genetics, engineered cell models, and advanced genomic mapping to follow repair decisions in different cell types and during differentiation. A special focus is on a histone variant called macroH2A1, which is spliced differently in development and cancer, and on how those differences alter repair outcomes. Findings will help explain why some cells favor one repair route over another and how that changes in disease.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with cancers known to have DNA repair defects or altered RNA splicing (including tumors with suspected macroH2A1 changes) would be the most relevant candidates for sample donation or for follow-up clinical studies.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate treatment or those with conditions unrelated to DNA repair are unlikely to gain direct, short-term benefit from this basic science project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could reveal new targets or biomarkers to steer DNA repair in cancer cells or to predict which tumors respond to specific therapies.
How similar studies have performed: Previous DNA repair research has produced clinical advances (for example PARP inhibitors for repair-defective cancers), but using chromatin variants and nuclear RNAs to direct repair choice is a newer and less-tested approach.
Where this research is happening
Baltimore, United States
- Johns Hopkins University — Baltimore, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Oberdoerffer, Philipp — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Oberdoerffer, Philipp
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.