Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center postdoctoral fellow Dr. Grant King was named a 2023 Postdoctoral Fellow by the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation. The four-year, $300,000 award will allow King to study how “extra-chromosomal” DNA, or DNA that breaks away from larger chromosomes, can persist long-term in cells.
“By studying basic questions, we can make the most profound insights that ultimately help human health,” said King, who is mentored by Fred Hutch evolutionary biologist Dr. Harmit Malik. “The Damon Runyon Fellowship supports that work.”
Pieces of DNA that reside outside chromosomes can help promote the evolution that cancer cells need to grow unchecked, spread and evade treatment. Understanding the biological processes that enable extra-chromosomal DNA to persist will help researchers looking for ways to hinder tumor evolution.
