How cells repair DNA and the body's internal clock interact
Molecular Mechanism of Mammalian DNA Excision Repair and the Circadian Clock
Learning how cells' DNA-repair systems and the body's internal clock work together to help prevent and better time treatments for DNA damage from carcinogens and chemotherapy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11176973 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will use advanced lab techniques to map where and how cells repair DNA at single-base resolution across the genome using methods called XR-seq and Damage-seq. They will compare repair 'hotspots' and 'coldspots' with 3D genome organization, chromatin states, and replication timing to see what controls repair. The team will also study a newly discovered repair pathway in insects and use biochemical and genetic experiments to uncover the underlying mechanisms. Findings are intended to clarify how the circadian clock influences DNA repair and to point toward better timing of treatments that damage DNA.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with cancer, patients receiving chemotherapy, or those exposed to carcinogens who might benefit from therapies timed to the body's clock are the most relevant groups.
Not a fit: People with conditions unrelated to DNA damage or circadian biology are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could lead to better timing of cancer treatments (chronotherapy) and strategies that reduce DNA damage or treatment side effects.
How similar studies have performed: Prior lab and clinical work shows the circadian clock affects drug toxicity and DNA repair tools exist, but combining genome-wide repair maps with circadian mechanisms is a novel and less-tested approach.
Where this research is happening
Chapel Hill, United States
- Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill — Chapel Hill, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sancar, Aziz — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Sancar, Aziz
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.