How the HELB protein helps protect DNA when cells copy themselves
Official title: Role of HELB in the Replication Stress Response
Funded at Arkansas Children's Hospital Res Inst · NIH-11171806 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at whether the HELB protein helps cells protect and copy their DNA, which could matter for people at risk of cancer or age-related tissue damage.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Arkansas Children's Hospital Res Inst NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Little Rock, United States) |
| Project start | July 11, 2017 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $315,969 |
| NIH project number | 5P20GM121293-09 |
| Project ID | NIH-11171806 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This project does not enroll patients; it is laboratory research using cell and biochemical models rather than human participants.
✕Less likely to help
People looking for immediate treatment options or clinical interventions will not benefit directly from this basic laboratory research.
What this research studies
Researchers will study HELB, a protein that appears to protect stalled DNA replication forks and help restart DNA copying after damage. They will use lab-grown cells and biochemical tests to see how HELB prevents harmful DNA breakdown and helps replication move through difficult DNA structures. The team will also use sequencing and chromatin assays to look for effects on DNA packaging and epigenetic stability. This work is done in the lab rather than as a clinical trial and aims to reveal basic steps that keep our DNA intact.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify new molecular targets to prevent or treat cancers driven by problems in DNA replication and to protect cells from age-related genome instability.
How similar studies have gone: Prior laboratory studies support a role for HELB in protecting replication forks and helping replication through G-quadruplex DNA, but the precise mechanisms and clinical relevance remain novel and under active study.
Where this research is happening
-
Arkansas Children's Hospital Res Inst
Little Rock, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Byrd, Alicia K. — Arkansas Children's Hospital Res Inst
- Study coordinator: Byrd, Alicia K.
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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.