Grant Award Summary

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) awarded New York Genome Center, Inc. a $270,683 Project Grant under the Cancer Biology Research program (CFDA 93.396) to develop and validate Paired-Break-Seq, a novel single-cell multiomics sequencing technology. The award, initiated May 5, 2026, and extending through April 30, 2029, supports the creation of a high-throughput technique capable of simultaneously analyzing double-stranded DNA breaks (DSBs), single-stranded DNA breaks (SSBs), and transcriptomic data from individual cells. This advancement addresses a critical gap in cancer research by enabling single-cell characterization of DNA damage heterogeneity and its impacts on gene regulation—essential for developing personalized and effective cancer therapies.

The project builds on the awardee's previous development of Paired-Damage-Seq and aims to elucidate the combinatorial roles of multiple DNA damage types in complex cellular processes. By measuring multiple molecular layers simultaneously from single cells, the resulting Paired-Break-Seq platform will enable researchers to better understand the interplay between genome instability and epigenetic dysregulation—both hallmarks of cancer. This fundamental research aligns with the NCI's strategic objective to provide information on cancer mechanisms that translates to improved prevention, detection, diagnosis, and treatment of neoplastic diseases.