UAMS Researcher Part of $2.2 Million Study Linking DNA Damage to Cancer Mutations

The study aims to track both DNA damage and the resulting mutations together in the same system, something researchers say has never been done before.

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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A University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences researcher is part of a national coalition working to better understand how DNA damage leads to cancer-causing mutations. The study, funded by the National Institutes of Environmental Health Sciences for $2.2 million, launched in February 2025 and runs through January 2028. Researchers from the University of California at San Diego and the University of South Florida are also part of the consortium.

Why it matters

The study aims to provide new insights into the connection between environmental exposures, DNA damage, and cancer-causing mutations, which could lead to more targeted prevention strategies to reduce the risk of tumor development.

The details

Gunnar Boysen, an associate professor in the UAMS Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health, is responsible for determining the position of DNA modification and how exposures bind to DNA. His lab has developed new technology that can measure exposure on DNA before mutations occur, allowing researchers to distinguish between mutations driven by environmental exposures and those driven by epigenetic changes.

  • The study launched in February 2025 and runs through January 2028.

The players

Gunnar Boysen

An associate professor in the UAMS Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health and a researcher in the ViCTER consortium.

University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS)

The institution where Gunnar Boysen is a researcher.

National Institutes of Environmental Health Sciences

The organization that is providing $2.2 million in funding for the study.

University of California at San Diego

One of the institutions participating in the ViCTER consortium.

University of South Florida

One of the institutions participating in the ViCTER consortium.

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What they’re saying

“When our cells try to copy damaged DNA, mistakes called mutations can happen. Our hope is that by connecting the dots between DNA damage and mutations, we can figure out which agents are actually causing harmful mutations – like those that lead to cancer – so we can avoid them.”

— Gunnar Boysen, Associate Professor, UAMS Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health (ktlo.com)

“Eventually, we hope to have targeted prevention strategies to keep damage and mutations from happening, to prevent tumors.”

— Gunnar Boysen, Associate Professor, UAMS Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health (ktlo.com)

What’s next

The study is expected to continue through January 2028, with researchers working to further understand the connection between DNA damage and cancer-causing mutations.

The takeaway

This study represents a significant step forward in cancer research, as it aims to provide new insights into the underlying mechanisms that link environmental exposures to the development of cancer-causing mutations. The findings could ultimately lead to more effective prevention strategies to reduce the risk of tumor development.