Keeping chromosomes intact
Official title: Maintaining the integrity of a genome
Funded at Stowers Institute for Medical Research · NIH-11142649 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This work explores how proteins and DNA structures at centromeres hold sister chromosomes together to prevent errors that can lead to cancer or reproductive aging.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Stowers Institute for Medical Research NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Kansas City, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2022 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $377,438 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA266339-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11142649 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People affected by cancers linked to chromosome instability or by age-related reproductive decline are the most relevant group who might one day benefit or be asked to provide samples for related work.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with conditions unrelated to chromosome instability (for example, acute infections or metabolic issues) are unlikely to directly benefit from this laboratory-focused work.
What this research studies
Researchers will map how the cohesin protein complex and DNA catenation create unique patterns of sister-chromatid cohesion at individual human centromeres using molecular assays and 3-D imaging in human cells. They will compare cohesion features across different chromosomes to identify which make a chromosome more or less prone to mis-segregation. The team will test how altering cohesion affects chromosome segregation and double-strand break repair to build a detailed molecular model. The goal is a clearer picture of the molecular causes of chromosome instability that underlies some cancers and age-related reproductive decline.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could point to new ways to detect, prevent, or treat disorders driven by chromosome instability, including some cancers and reproductive aging.
How similar studies have gone: Prior basic research in cells and model organisms has shown cohesin and centromere defects cause chromosome-segregation errors, but this project applies novel single-centromere mapping approaches in human cells.
Where this research is happening
-
Stowers Institute for Medical Research
Kansas City, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gerton, Jennifer L — Stowers Institute for Medical Research
- Study coordinator: Gerton, Jennifer L
Related research
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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.