Nanobody tools to study NEIL1 and NEIL2 in DNA repair
Official title: Innovative Nanobody Tools for NEIL1 and NEIL2: Overcoming Barriers in DNA Repair Research
Funded at University of South Alabama · NIH-11435762 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A small, targeted grant will create special nanobodies to study how NEIL1 and NEIL2 repair damaged DNA in human cells and mitochondria.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R03 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of South Alabama NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Mobile, United States) |
| Project start | August 5, 2026 |
| Project end | August 4, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $156,000 |
| NIH project number | 1R03ES038960-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11435762 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates include people with conditions linked to oxidative DNA damage or those interested in participating in future biomarker or mechanism studies tied to DNA repair.
✕Less likely to help
Healthy individuals or studies not involving human samples or patient data may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project will develop single-domain antibodies (nanobodies) that bind NEIL1 and NEIL2 to enable detailed structural and live-cell studies. The work aims to overcome previous barriers like low protein levels and lack of good antibodies, so researchers can observe NEIL1/NEIL2 behavior during DNA damage. It combines antibody development with imaging approaches to visualize how these enzymes respond to oxidative DNA lesions in real time.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could benefit from faster advances in understanding how DNA repair fails in age-related diseases and cancer, which may inform future therapies.
How similar studies have gone: Earlier work showed that nanobodies can stabilize NEIL1 for imaging, supporting the feasibility of this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of South Alabama
Mobile, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Prakash, Aishwarya — University of South Alabama
- Study coordinator: Prakash, Aishwarya
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.