Noncanonical PARP1 roles in protecting against chromium exposure
Official title: Noncanonical functions of PARP1 in protection against chromium(VI)
Funded at Brown University · NIH-11438052 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant studies how PARP1 helps protect people from harmful chromium exposure at work and in the environment by uncovering how chromium-induced DNA damage is repaired.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brown University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Providence, United States) |
| Project start | September 22, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $199,375 |
| NIH project number | 1R21ES038944-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11438052 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals with occupational chromium exposure or communities with environmental chromium contamination.
✕Less likely to help
People without chromium exposure may not directly benefit from this research.
What this research studies
If you work in metal processing or live in areas with chromium pollution, this project looks at how cells handle DNA damage caused by hexavalent chromium. Researchers will explore how chromium creates DNA-adducts and how the enzyme PARP1 helps repair these injuries to prevent cell toxicity and cancer risk. The work uses cell-based models and may involve animal or human-derived samples to understand the repair processes and to identify potential protective strategies. Findings could point to new ways to reduce cancer risk from chromium exposure and improve safety guidelines. The study is designed to advance our understanding of chromium-induced DNA damage and the cellular defenses that keep cells healthy.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to better protective strategies and therapies to reduce cancer risk for people exposed to chromium.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work suggests that PARP1 plays a key role in repairing DNA damage, supporting the potential for meaningful advances.
Where this research is happening
-
Brown University
Providence, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zhitkovich, Anatoly — Brown University
- Study coordinator: Zhitkovich, Anatoly
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.