Telomere Overhang Imaging Tool to Understand DNA Damage and Telomere Biology
Official title: Structure, Accessibility and Extension of Telomeric Overhangs-Supplement for a Confocal Microscope
Funded at Kent State University · NIH-11520880 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A hospital or research lab could use a new high-end microscope to study how telomeres protect chromosomes and how DNA damage impacts telomere biology.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Kent State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Kent, United States) |
| Project start | February 1, 2025 |
| Project end | January 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $245,000 |
| NIH project number | 3R35GM156183-02S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11520880 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with disorders linked to telomere biology or DNA damage responses may benefit from longer-term discoveries that arise from this work.
✕Less likely to help
The grant itself does not involve patient participation or direct clinical procedures.
What this research studies
This grant seeks administrative funds to buy an advanced microscope (EI-FLEX Pro) and supports single-molecule imaging of telomeric overhangs to understand how Shelterin, TERRA, and small molecules influence accessibility to probes and enzymes. The work uses surface-immobilized molecules and microfluidic chambers to observe telomere dynamics and telomerase-driven extension under physiological conditions. It will require careful surface chemistry and imaging setup to minimize background and maintain photostability during long experiments. The project is conducted in a university setting with single-molecule methods that could reveal fundamental links between telomere structure and DNA damage response.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could deepen our understanding of telomere biology and inform future approaches to diagnose or treat diseases related to telomere dysfunction.
How similar studies have gone: Single-molecule telomere studies have yielded valuable insights, though applying this exact imaging setup to telomere overhangs is a relatively specialized and novel approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Kent State University
Kent, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Balci, Hamza — Kent State University
- Study coordinator: Balci, Hamza
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.