Stopping R-loop damage at the ends of chromosomes
Understanding and Targeting the R-Loop-Mediated DNA Damage Response at Telomeres
This research looks at how R-loops cause DNA damage at chromosome ends (telomeres) and aims to find ways to protect cells that could matter for cancer and aging.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Duke University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11139583 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient's point of view, researchers create bursts of reactive oxygen at telomeres in lab-grown cells to see how that damage is repaired. They have found that R-loops trigger a repair process called break-induced replication (BIR) and that some cancers use a related pathway (ALT) to maintain telomeres. The team will compare these pathways, map the proteins involved, and test molecular steps that link oxidative damage repair and ALT. The work uses cellular and molecular lab models to identify targets that might be useful for future treatments or diagnostics.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients whose tumors use the ALT telomere-maintenance pathway and individuals with Cockayne Syndrome would be most relevant for future sample donation or clinical follow-up related to this research.
Not a fit: Patients whose cancers rely on telomerase rather than ALT, or those with conditions unrelated to telomere biology, are less likely to see direct benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new molecular targets to block certain cancers that use the ALT pathway and to protect cells from telomere damage linked to aging and Cockayne Syndrome.
How similar studies have performed: Prior laboratory studies have shown R-loops and ALT are involved in telomere biology, but translating these mechanistic findings into patient treatments remains largely untested and novel.
Where this research is happening
Durham, United States
- Duke University — Durham, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lan, Li — Duke University
- Study coordinator: Lan, Li
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.