Research Description:
The goal of our lab is to understand the mechanisms that govern genome stability, and the importance of these mechanisms in normal development and health. Most mammalian cells are confronted with a daily barrage of damage to their genomes. Damage can occur by environmental contact with damaging agents, radiation exposures (such as medical X-rays or occupational exposures), normal cell metabolic processes, or as part of natural developmental programs. Normal cell and tissue function demands properly balanced and regulated responses to DNA damage. Imbalances in the DNA damage response can result in failed or inappropriate repair, leading to disease. Repair defects can cause developmental abnormalities, organ dysfunction, progressive tissue deterioration and aging, or malignant transformation. We are dedicated to discovering basic genome stability mechanisms, learning how they function to maintain to normal health, and understanding how their failure leads to specific diseases. The lab focuses on these issues by concentrating on three essential and interrelated areas:
(1) normal immune cell development and immunodeficiency; (2) lymphoid cancer; and (3) the biology of aging.Examples of our projects include:
