Investigator: Dr. Claudia Scholl

Institution: German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ)

Country: Germany

Project Title: CRISPR anchor screens in chordoma

Award: $50k

Description: This project uses cutting-edge CRISPR technology to search for genes that influence how chordoma tumors respond to certain drugs. By identifying genes that either enhance a tumor’s sensitivity to treatment or cause resistance to treatment, researchers hope to uncover new opportunities for combination therapies that could improve outcomes for patients. One key focus is understanding why chordoma cells rely heavily on a particular phase of the cell cycle and a protein called PLK1. This research could open up new treatment possibilities by targeting these dependencies in chordoma cells, ultimately offering new strategies to fight the disease.