# Research Specialist Support- Establishing and Interpreting Abnormal DNA Methylation in Cancer

> **NIH NIH R50** · VAN ANDEL RESEARCH INSTITUTE · 2024 · $166,080

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY / ABSTRACT
Dr. Minmin Liu and the Unit Director, Dr. Peter A. Jones, have closely collaborated since 2012, resulting in a
significant number of high-quality publications that have had a major impact on the field of cancer epigenetics.
Dr. Liu possesses a strong foundation in biomedical sciences, covering biochemistry, microbiology, immunology,
molecular biology, structural biology, genetics, and epigenetics. Her skill set includes a diverse range of
techniques crucial for the proposed study, including the use of next-generation sequencing for epigenome
research. In addition to her wet-lab expertise, she is proficient in computational and bioinformatics tools for
genomic and epigenomic data analysis. Dr. Liu's unique qualifications, extensive research background,
specialized expertise, and proven scientific contributions make her an exceptional asset to the team.
The objective of this proposal is to support Dr. Liu's career development as a research specialist to continue
making significant contributions to Dr. Jones' established research program, funded by the NCI. Dr. Liu is
currently addressing the following questions: 1) Does DNMT3A2 overexpression contribute to carcinogenesis?
2) How does de novo methylation occur in a nucleosomal context? 3) What are the potential biological roles of
hemimethylation? The aims of her future studies are to identify novel protein isoforms for epigenetic modifiers
and study their roles during tumorigenesis, as well as to explore the role of hemimethylation in both stem cell
development and cancer. These projects will provide new insights into how the abnormal epigenome is shaped
in cancer and will lead to the development of novel methods for measuring genome-wide hemimethylation. This
award will provide Dr. Liu with the freedom and security to advance her research in cancer epigenetics and
support the research program of the Jones group.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10978624
- **Project number:** 2R50CA243878-06
- **Recipient organization:** VAN ANDEL RESEARCH INSTITUTE
- **Principal Investigator:** Minmin Liu
- **Activity code:** R50 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $166,080
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 2019-09-20 → 2029-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10978624

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10978624, Research Specialist Support- Establishing and Interpreting Abnormal DNA Methylation in Cancer (2R50CA243878-06). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10978624. Licensed CC0.

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