PhD
Professor; Biochemistry and Biophysics
Director, MiBio training program in Cell and Molecular Biology
UNC-Chapel Hill
Cancer Genetics
Area of Interest
The end-joining pathway has an important role in all cell types repairing DSBs caused by DNA damaging agents (e.g. ionizing radiation, certain chemotherapeutic drugs). End joining is also essential for efficient resolution of DSB intermediates during V(D)J recombination, a lymphocyte specific process required for assembly of the immune system’s antigen specific receptors. Defective end joining thus results in radiation sensitivity, severe immunodeficiency, age-dependent failure of stem cells, and an increased incidence of cancer. My lab uses diverse molecular biological approaches to develop an understanding how end joining works, and what happens when it doesn’t.
