Understanding how aging affects cancer development through advanced tissue analysis
Official title: Building a spatial transcriptomics infrastructure for isoform profiling in aging pre-neoplastic tissues
Funded at Jackson Laboratory · NIH-10911290 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how aging affects our cells and genes, especially in relation to breast cancer, to help find new ways to understand and treat the disease better.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Jackson Laboratory NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Bar Harbor, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | May 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $191,765 |
| NIH project number | 5R21AG080243-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10911290 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are older adults who are at risk for developing breast cancer or have pre-neoplastic conditions.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are younger and do not have a history of breast cancer or pre-neoplastic conditions may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the cellular and molecular changes that occur with aging and how they contribute to the initiation of cancer, particularly breast cancer. By utilizing spatial transcriptomics, the study aims to uncover the expression patterns of genes within the context of tissue structure, which is crucial for understanding cancer progression. The research focuses on identifying full-length spliced isoforms that are often overlooked in traditional RNA sequencing methods, which may play a significant role in tumor initiation and response to treatment. Patients may benefit from insights gained about how aging influences cancer biology and potential new therapeutic targets.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved understanding and treatment strategies for age-related cancers, particularly breast cancer.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using spatial transcriptomics to understand cancer biology, suggesting that this approach could yield valuable insights into aging-related cancer mechanisms.
Where this research is happening
-
Jackson Laboratory
Bar Harbor, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Anczukow-Camarda, Olga — Jackson Laboratory
- Study coordinator: Anczukow-Camarda, Olga
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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.