Investigating how damaged DNA in cancer cells affects neighboring cells
Official title: Non-cell autonomous consequences of cytoplasmic DNA
Funded at Ut Southwestern Medical Center · NIH-10906019 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how tiny pieces of DNA from cancer cells can change the behavior of nearby healthy cells, which might help us understand how cancer affects its surroundings and how cells communicate with each other.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Fellowship grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ut Southwestern Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Dallas, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $39,711 |
| NIH project number | 5F31CA284510-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10906019 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with cancers characterized by genomic instability.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with stable, non-genomically unstable cancers may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research explores the effects of cytoplasmic DNA from cancer cells on their surrounding environment. It focuses on how DNA fragments from damaged chromosomes can influence neighboring cells and potentially alter their behavior. By using advanced techniques to track these DNA fragments, the study aims to uncover the mechanisms behind inter-cellular communication in the context of cancer. This could provide insights into how cancer cells interact with and affect the tumor microenvironment.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new strategies for targeting cancer by understanding how cancer cells communicate with their surroundings.
How similar studies have gone: While the cGAS-STING pathway is well-studied, the specific focus on non-cell autonomous roles of cytoplasmic DNAs in cancer is a novel approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Ut Southwestern Medical Center
Dallas, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Maurais, Elizabeth — Ut Southwestern Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Maurais, Elizabeth
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.