Used in biochemical research as a nucleoside analog to study nucleic acid synthesis and enzyme mechanisms, particularly in the investigation of deoxycytidine kinase and other kinases involved in nucleotide metabolism. Serves as a building block in the development of antiviral and anticancer agents due to its structural similarity to natural nucleosides, allowing it to interfere with viral replication or tumor cell proliferation. Also employed in metabolic labeling studies to track DNA and RNA dynamics in cell cultures.