Development of genetically encoded fluorescent reporters to detect a pediatric cancer biomarker in living cells
About This Grant
Project Summary Cancerous cells develop mechanisms to evade the checks and balances that control growth and replication in normal cells. One of the mechanisms by which tumor cells become immortal is maintenance of telomere DNA that protects the ends of chromosomes using one of two known telomere maintenance mechanisms (TMMs): telomerase, and the Alternative Lengthening of Telomeres (ALT) pathway. ALT-positive cancers are aggressive and especially prevalent in pediatric tumors of mesenchymal origin, including 65% of osteosarcomas, 25% of high-risk neuroblastomas, 45% of glioblastomas, and 30% of solid pediatric tumors. Currently, there are no pathway-specific therapeutic targets of ALT. ALT activity results in the production of extrachromosomal C-circles, a robust and quantifiable biomarker. C-circles are arguably the most reliable ALT biomarker as they are specific to ALT positive cells, have been identified in every ALT positive cell model to date, and are tightly associated with ALT activity. New approaches are necessary to unlock key mechanisms driving ALT activation and maintenance to make therapeutic discovery more tractable. Specifically, technologies that allow us to understand how and when ALT is activated in live cells, and that can monitor the emergence of ALT in real time as cells become resistant to telomerase inhibitors would be transformative. To address these challenges, we will engineer two cell reporter platforms: (1) a system that detects modulation of C-circle levels in live cells that will be applied to a first-in-class pooled CRISPR genetic screen to identify key players in the pathway; and (2) an ALT-specific reporter system that can be applied to cultured cells or later translated to model organisms (mouse, zebrafish) to study the emergence of ALT in normal development and in therapeutic resistance to telomerase inhibitors.
Grant Summary
Development of genetically encoded fluorescent reporters to detect a pediatric cancer biomarker in living cells is a NCI - National Cancer Institute grant providing up to $388K for university, nonprofit, healthcare org. Applications are due 2028-06-30 (open). Check eligibility and apply with FindGrants.
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How to Apply
Up to $388K
2028-06-30
- 1Confirm your organization is eligible for Development of genetically encoded fluorescent reporters to detect a pediatric cancer biomarker in living cells from NCI - National Cancer Institute, checking organization type, location, and any population or project requirements.
- 2Gather the required documents and information, including your organization details, project plan, and budget figures.
- 3Draft your application narrative and budget addressing the funder's priorities and review criteria. FindGrants can draft each section for you to review and edit.
- 4Review every section against the requirements checklist, then export a submission-ready application pack and submit it to NCI - National Cancer Institute before the deadline.
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Development of genetically encoded fluorescent reporters to detect a pediatric cancer biomarker in living cells: Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible for the Development of genetically encoded fluorescent reporters to detect a pediatric cancer biomarker in living cells?
Development of genetically encoded fluorescent reporters to detect a pediatric cancer biomarker in living cells is offered by NCI - National Cancer Institute and is generally open to university, nonprofit, healthcare org. It is open to organizations nationwide unless the funder specifies otherwise. Review the specific eligibility terms before applying, since funders set their own requirements around organization type, location, and the population or project being served.
How much funding does the Development of genetically encoded fluorescent reporters to detect a pediatric cancer biomarker in living cells provide?
Development of genetically encoded fluorescent reporters to detect a pediatric cancer biomarker in living cells provides up to $388K per award from NCI - National Cancer Institute. Actual award sizes depend on the scope of your project, available program funds, and the number of applicants, so build a budget that reflects realistic, allowable costs rather than the maximum figure.
When is the Development of genetically encoded fluorescent reporters to detect a pediatric cancer biomarker in living cells deadline?
Applications for Development of genetically encoded fluorescent reporters to detect a pediatric cancer biomarker in living cells are due 2028-06-30 (open). Because deadlines can change, verify the date with the funder, NCI - National Cancer Institute, and give yourself enough time to prepare a complete, competitive application before the close date.
How do you apply for the Development of genetically encoded fluorescent reporters to detect a pediatric cancer biomarker in living cells?
To apply for Development of genetically encoded fluorescent reporters to detect a pediatric cancer biomarker in living cells, confirm your eligibility, gather the required documents, and prepare a narrative and budget that address the funder's priorities. FindGrants guides you step by step and can draft each section, then exports a submission-ready application pack for this grant from NCI - National Cancer Institute.