Repairing DNA shapes that destabilize the genome
Repair of Genome Destabilizing DNA Structures
This project looks at how unusual DNA shapes and age-related changes cause mutations that can lead to cancer, aiming to inform ways to prevent age-related cancers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas at Austin NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Austin, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11258539 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will compare DNA from different tissues and ages to see where and how non‑standard DNA shapes form and become mutation hotspots. They will study how DNA methylation and DNA repair proteins influence the formation and processing of these structures in laboratory models and cell systems. The team will map where these DNA structures and mutations occur in tissues such as colon and brain and test how repair pathways change with age. Findings are meant to point toward biological processes that could be targeted to lower cancer risk as people age.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with age-related cancers or individuals willing to donate tissue or biological samples (for example colon or brain-related samples) to research could be suitable collaborators for parts of this project.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate clinical treatments or therapies are unlikely to get direct benefit from this basic laboratory-focused research in the short term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal biological targets to prevent or reduce age-related mutations that drive cancer, guiding future prevention or treatment strategies.
How similar studies have performed: Prior laboratory studies have shown non‑B DNA structures can promote mutations and involve methylation and repair pathways, but translating those findings into prevention or therapies remains an emerging area.
Where this research is happening
Austin, United States
- University of Texas at Austin — Austin, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Vasquez, Karen M — University of Texas at Austin
- Study coordinator: Vasquez, Karen M
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 below.