Understanding how genetic variations affect cancer risk
Official title: Expanding the Reach of Massively Parallel Variant Effect Screens
Funded at University of Michigan at Ann Arbor · NIH-11057568 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how different genetic changes might affect your genes and influence your risk of developing cancer, especially those subtle changes that are often missed, to help improve genetic testing and better understand your health.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2024 |
| Project end | March 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $499,860 |
| NIH project number | 5R35GM153286-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11057568 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include individuals with a family history of cancer or those who have undergone genetic testing that revealed variants of uncertain significance.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without any genetic variants related to cancer risk or those not interested in genetic testing may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the impact of various genetic variants on gene function and their potential role in influencing cancer risk. By utilizing advanced techniques to test thousands of gene variants simultaneously, the study aims to identify which variants are clinically significant and how they may contribute to inherited cancer syndromes. The research focuses particularly on variants that have subtle effects on gene function, which are often overlooked but could still play a crucial role in disease risk. The findings could enhance the accuracy of genetic testing and improve patient outcomes by providing actionable insights into genetic risks.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more accurate genetic testing and better risk assessment for cancer, ultimately improving patient care.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has successfully utilized similar approaches to understand genetic variants, indicating a promising potential for this study.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kitzman, Jacob Otto — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Kitzman, Jacob Otto
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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.