Understanding how innate immunity changes DNA replication
Official title: Understanding the regulation of a program of indcuible DNA replication driven by Innate Immune Activation
Funded at University of Colorado Denver · NIH-11551495 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study to learn how the body's first-line immune signals can change how cells copy their DNA, which could reveal new ways our cells respond to infections.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Colorado Denver NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Aurora, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 9, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $751,596 |
| NIH project number | 1R56AI195966-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11551495 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not applicable to patient enrollment in this grant as described (basic mechanistic study in cell systems).
✕Less likely to help
No direct patient participation or benefit from this basic science grant.
What this research studies
This project looks at how signals from innate immunity, like NF-κB and interferon pathways, influence when and how DNA regions start replication. It investigates a newly found program where immune activation can trigger licensing of replication origins and transient DNA rereplication, producing extra DNA copies at specific sites. The research uses cell culture models to map these changes and identify key proteins such as MCM2 and RelA that drive the process. Findings could clarify how immune responses reshape the genome during infection and inflammation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could uncover new targets for therapies that modulate immune responses or genome stability during infections.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work has shown immune signaling can influence DNA replication timing and genomic changes in cells; this project extends those observations to specific loci and mechanisms.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Colorado Denver
Aurora, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sullivan, Kelly D. — University of Colorado Denver
- Study coordinator: Sullivan, Kelly D.
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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.