Award
NIH Reporter #3OT2CA278635-01S4
eDyNAmiC - UCSD
Recipient
University of California, San Diego
Award Amount
$687,053.00
Ceiling
$687,053.00
Awarded
August 14, 2026
Identifier
3OT2CA278635-01S4
This award funds research on extrachromosomal DNA in cancer, focusing on understanding its role in tumor growth, resistance, and immune impact to develop new therapies.
Description
eDyNAmiC (extrachromosomal DNA in Cancer) investigates how tumor-promoting genes in cancer can relocate to circular, extrachromosomal pieces of DNA (ecDNA). These ecDNAs do not follow normal inheritance rules, allowing tumors to achieve higher levels of oncogenes and evolve rapidly to evade treatments. The project aims to understand ecDNA formation, function, movement, resistance development, immune system impact, and potential targeting strategies. It involves an interdisciplinary team of cancer biologists, geneticists, computer scientists, evolutionary biologists, mathematicians, clinicians, and patient advocates. The approach combines cancer genomics, yeast genetics, epigenomics, artificial genome synthesis, patient tracking, machine learning, mathematical modeling, immunobiology, and chemistry to develop new insights and therapies.