Understanding how DNA repair blockers change chemical toxicity in people
Official title: Modeling the Responsiveness of Sensitive Populations to Genotoxic Agents Using DNA Repair Inhibitors
Funded at Litron Laboratories, LTD. · NIH-11408627 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are testing how damage from chemicals might affect people differently by using human cells and DNA repair inhibitors to model sensitive individuals.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Litron Laboratories, LTD. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Rochester, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $843,789 |
| NIH project number | 5R44ES035550-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11408627 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with conditions or genetic backgrounds that affect DNA repair, or anyone who could be a future participant in studies refining toxicity testing.
✕Less likely to help
People not exposed to genotoxic chemicals or without concerns about DNA repair variability may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project uses a single, DNA repair–competent human cell line (TK6) and combines it with different DNA repair inhibitors to simulate how people with varying repair capacities might respond to toxic chemicals. By comparing responses with standard tests, the team hopes to reveal mechanisms behind heightened sensitivity and identify when standard assays might miss dangerous effects. The goal is to create a clearer, more human-relevant picture of chemical toxicity without relying on many animal models. Results could inform safer chemical development and better screening methods for vulnerable populations.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to more accurate toxicity screens that protect people with higher sensitivity to DNA-damaging chemicals.
How similar studies have gone: Previous approaches using standard cell lines lack human variability; this project builds on established DNA repair–focused toxicology methods with a novel co-exposure platform.
Where this research is happening
-
Litron Laboratories, LTD.
Rochester, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dertinger, Stephen D — Litron Laboratories, LTD.
- Study coordinator: Dertinger, Stephen D
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.