Understanding how broken chromosomes lead to cancer development
Official title: Mechanisms of Chromosome Shattering from Defective DNA Replication
Funded at Ut Southwestern Medical Center · NIH-11059070 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking into how certain mistakes during cell division can cause DNA to break apart in ways that might lead to cancer, and it's for anyone interested in understanding how these changes happen and how they could help improve cancer treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ut Southwestern Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Dallas, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2024 |
| Project end | March 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $441,458 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA289435-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11059070 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with cancers that exhibit complex genomic rearrangements, particularly those with a history of chromosomal instability.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with cancers that do not involve chromosomal missegregation or those without a genetic predisposition to such alterations may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the process of chromothripsis, where mis-segregated chromosomes break apart and create complex genomic changes that can lead to cancer. By using advanced techniques like CRISPR/Cas9, the study aims to uncover the mechanisms behind this phenomenon, particularly focusing on how DNA damage occurs during cell division. The goal is to better understand how these genomic alterations contribute to the evolution of cancer and the inactivation of tumor suppressor genes, which could ultimately inform new treatment strategies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new insights into cancer development and potential therapeutic targets for treatment.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promising results in understanding chromosomal instability and its role in cancer, suggesting that this approach could yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Ut Southwestern Medical Center
Dallas, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ly, Peter — Ut Southwestern Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Ly, Peter
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Developing targeted therapies for Ewing sarcoma
This study is working on new treatments for Ewing sarcoma, a cancer that mainly affects kids and teens, by finding ways to target a specific protein that helps the cancer grow, so that we can offer safer and better options for those fighting this disease.
-
Neural roots of how autistic adults understand word meaning
A study to understand how adults with autism process word meanings in the brain, aiming to improve language support.
-
A new approach to healing NF1-related tibia fractures in children
This grant aims to understand why some NF1-related leg fractures in kids don’t heal well and to develop better treatments to help them recover without complications.
-
Multi-center study on how ventilation during CPR relates to cardiac arrest outcomes
A large, real-world study will look at how ventilation during CPR affects survival after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in adults.
-
National Spina Bifida Patient Registry across the U.S.
A national registry collects health information from people with spina bifida to help doctors and families get better, more consistent care.
-
MONA-LISA: Understanding Why Autoimmune Signals Turn into Lupus Over Time
A study using data and samples from people with early autoimmune signs to understand why some develop full-blown lupus and others do not.
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.