Understanding how cells detect and respond to DNA damage
Official title: Structural Mechanisms of DNA Damage Sensing and Activation of the ATR, Fanconi Anemia, and ATM Checkpoints
Funded at Sloan-Kettering Inst Can Research · NIH-11073113 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how our cells detect and fix damage to their DNA, which is really important for stopping cancer, and it aims to understand how certain proteins work together to repair serious DNA problems, with the hope that this knowledge can help develop new treatments to improve DNA repair in cancer cells.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Sloan-Kettering Inst Can Research NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2023 |
| Project end | April 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $672,595 |
| NIH project number | 5R01GM149915-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11073113 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with genetic predispositions to cancer or those diagnosed with cancers characterized by DNA repair deficiencies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with cancers unrelated to DNA damage response mechanisms may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the mechanisms by which cells sense and repair DNA damage, which is crucial for preventing cancer. It focuses on understanding how specific protein assemblies respond to DNA double strand breaks and stalled replication forks, which can lead to genetic instability. Using advanced imaging techniques like cryo-electron microscopy, the researchers aim to create detailed 3D structures of these proteins to uncover their functions and interactions. This knowledge could pave the way for new therapeutic strategies to enhance DNA repair in cancer cells.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to innovative treatments that improve the effectiveness of cancer therapies by targeting DNA repair mechanisms.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promising results in understanding DNA repair mechanisms, indicating that this approach has the potential for significant breakthroughs.
Where this research is happening
-
Sloan-Kettering Inst Can Research
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Pavletich, Nikola P — Sloan-Kettering Inst Can Research
- Study coordinator: Pavletich, Nikola P
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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In vivo gene repair to restore healthy hematopoiesis in Fanconi anemia
A study aims to repair faulty genes inside patients’ blood-forming cells to help people with Fanconi anemia regain healthy blood cell production.
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Understanding genetic dependencies when Fanconi anemia pathway is lost
A study to find other genes or pathways that cancer cells rely on when the Fanconi anemia repair system is broken, with the aim of guiding future treatments.
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Innovative cell and gene therapy approaches to treat Fanconi anemia
A Stanford-led project aims to develop safer cell and gene therapies to help people with Fanconi anemia who have bone marrow failure.
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How cells detect DNA damage and activate ATR, ATM, and Fanconi anemia repair systems
Researchers are using high-resolution structural imaging to show how key repair proteins sense DNA damage, with relevance for people whose cancers come from DNA repair defects.
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In vivo gene therapy for Fanconi anemia
A patient-focused overview of a potential in vivo gene therapy approach to correct Fanconi anemia, aiming to reduce the need for donor transplants.
-
Fanconi anemia: what happens inside cells
Researchers want to learn how proteins called REV7 and CHAMP1 change DNA repair in people with Fanconi anemia and related genetic syndromes.
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.