Research
Genome Integrity
Research within the Genome Integrity (GIN) focus group aims to enhance our mechanistic understanding of the pathways that maintain genome integrity, together with exploring the consequences of environmental exposures, and defective DNA maintenance in diseases, such as cancer. The emphasis of GIN is to study the molecular and cellular basis of processes involved in genome maintenance, and study its interplay with normal and diseased physiological contexts. GIN faculty study mechanisms of DNA replication, DNA repair, DNA recombination, and responses to DNA replication stress and DNA damage, with a focus on the RecQ family of DNA helicases and replication fork protection factors. Faculty apply their research to form a better understanding of cancer-prone syndromes associated with genome instability, such as Bloom’s syndrome. GIN faculty also study how environmental factors (i.e., the exposome) influence the nature and distribution of DNA damage and repair across the entire nuclear and mitochondrial genomes, and the impact upon human health. We adopt a translational approach to our research; in addition to studying genome integrity in humans (e.g., solid tissue, and extracellular matrices such as blood and urine), we also use a broad array of model systems, including transgenic and knockout mice, mammalian cell culture, and the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Our collaborations include the NCI-designated, H. Lee Moffitt Comprehensive Cancer Center, Morsani College of Medicine, the Wellcome Sanger Institute (UK), and Chung Shan Medical University (TW), together with groups from across the US, and the rest of the world.
PRIMARY faculty
affiliated faculty
