Structural mechanism of DNA replication in cancer-related research
Official title: Structural mechanism of DNA replication
Funded at Van Andel Research Institute · NIH-11377332 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A groundbreaking grant studies how the basic machinery that copies DNA works, with potential implications for understanding and treating cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Van Andel Research Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Grand Rapids, United States) |
| Project start | June 7, 2019 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $720,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R35GM131754-08 |
| Project ID | NIH-11377332 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not applicable; basic science grant not directly recruiting patients.
✕Less likely to help
No direct patient participation or benefit from this fundamental study.
What this research studies
This project examines how cells begin and carry out DNA replication at the molecular level, focusing on the proteins and structures that assemble at the origin and form the replisome. Using advanced imaging and reconstituted systems, researchers are mapping how the replication helicase and other components are activated and coordinated. The work aims to connect deep basic biology of DNA copying with mechanisms that could influence how cancer cells divide. Results could provide new angles for targeting abnormal cell replication in cancer therapies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Improved knowledge of DNA replication could inform new cancer treatments by revealing vulnerabilities in how cancer cells duplicate.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has successfully visualized replication machinery components, suggesting this approach can yield meaningful insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Van Andel Research Institute
Grand Rapids, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Li, Huilin — Van Andel Research Institute
- Study coordinator: Li, Huilin
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.