How gene changes shape cancer cells
Official title: Computational analysis of complex genetic interactions
Funded at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory · NIH-11251553 · Data updated 2026-11-12
The team is building computer tools to understand how combinations of gene changes alter cancer cells, to help researchers find better treatment targets for people with cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cold Spring Harbor, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2019 |
| Project end | November 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $528,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R35GM133613-07 |
| Project ID | NIH-11251553 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with cancer whose tumor samples are included in genetic screening projects or who are willing to donate tissue for lab studies would be most directly connected to this work.
✕Less likely to help
Patients looking for an immediate change in their clinical care are unlikely to benefit directly from this computational, lab-focused research.
What this research studies
If you have cancer, this project works behind the scenes to read huge genetic experiments that test many gene changes at once. The researchers use data from technologies like CRISPR screens, deep mutational scans, and reporter assays and apply advanced statistical models to find patterns. Their methods aim to predict how untested genetic combinations will affect cell behavior and to measure how certain those predictions are. The work is done on laboratory and sequencing data rather than treating patients directly, but it can guide future lab and clinical studies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, these tools could help researchers identify more precise drug targets and speed the design of therapies tailored to specific genetic changes in tumors.
How similar studies have gone: Related computational analyses of genetic screens have produced useful insights in cancer research, but applying flexible models to very large combinations of mutations is a newer and more ambitious step.
Where this research is happening
-
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Cold Spring Harbor, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mccandlish, David Martin — Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
- Study coordinator: Mccandlish, David Martin
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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.