How proteins control DNA repair in BRCA-related breast cancer
Dissecting the DNA Damage Response with Functional Proteomics
This project uses advanced protein-mapping tools to learn how DNA repair proteins like BRCA1 and its partners work, aiming to help people with BRCA-related breast cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas Hlth Science Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Antonio, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11261778 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will use mass spectrometry-based proteomics to map which proteins interact and which chemical tags (post-translational modifications) change when DNA is damaged. The team will focus on key hereditary breast cancer players such as BRCA1, BARD1, RAD51D, and the ARAF kinase to find enzymes that add or remove those tags. Lab experiments in cells will test how these protein networks control DNA repair and identify weaknesses in repair pathways. The overall aim is to reveal new molecular targets or biomarkers that could guide future treatments or tests for people with BRCA-related cancers.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with BRCA1 mutations or other hereditary breast cancer syndromes, or patients whose tumors show DNA repair defects, would be the most likely to benefit from resulting therapies or trials.
Not a fit: People without DNA-repair-related cancers or with conditions unrelated to BRCA/DDR biology are unlikely to see direct benefits from this basic laboratory research in the near term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new targets or biomarkers that lead to treatments or tests for BRCA-related breast cancers.
How similar studies have performed: Proteomics has previously identified important DNA-repair regulators and informed drug development, but mapping the specific kinase and phosphatase circuits targeted here is a relatively new and early-stage approach.
Where this research is happening
San Antonio, United States
- University of Texas Hlth Science Center — San Antonio, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kim, Minkyu — University of Texas Hlth Science Center
- Study coordinator: Kim, Minkyu
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.