Telomere biology: CST complex and telomerase at human telomeres in cancer
Official title: The interplay of the CST complex and telomerase at human telomeres
Funded at Rockefeller University · NIH-11401465 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant studies how telomere biology affects cancer, focusing on a protein complex that protects telomeres and how it interacts with telomerase to influence cancer development.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rockefeller University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | September 17, 2019 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $170,761 |
| NIH project number | 5R50CA243771-08 |
| Project ID | NIH-11401465 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with cancers associated with telomere biology or with telomere-related syndromes (e.g., Coats plus syndrome, dyskeratosis congenita) who may benefit from future translational applications.
✕Less likely to help
Current participants are unlikely to directly receive a therapy from this basic mechanistic study, but findings could guide future trials.
What this research studies
If you or a family member has a cancer linked to telomere biology, this project could shed light on why some cells keep growing and how telomere maintenance prevents or drives disease. Researchers will examine how the CST complex and related enzymes control telomere length and stability, and how this balance impacts cancer cell survival. The work builds on prior findings to understand a new telomere problem at DNA ends, aiming to reveal targets for future therapies. By studying this at the cellular level with human cells, the team hopes to translate insights into strategies that may prevent cancer progression in patients with telomere-related disorders.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Insights from this work could lead to new approaches to prevent or treat cancers linked to telomere dysfunction.
How similar studies have gone: Prior research has shown that telomere maintenance mechanisms influence cancer cell survival, supporting the potential impact of this work.
Where this research is happening
-
Rockefeller University
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Takai, Hiroyuki — Rockefeller University
- Study coordinator: Takai, Hiroyuki
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.