The goal of my research program is to discover and understand how cancer cells promote and/or avert critical mechanisms of survival/growth at the basic molecular level using biochemistry, molecular biology, enzymology and chemical biology approaches. Specifically, my research will focus on (1) discovering and characterizing novel factors in DNA damage and repair; (2) understanding the unannotated role of co-transcriptional DNA:RNA hybrids or R-loops in genomic instability; (3) designing and developing novel anti-cancer agents that are tumor-selective; and (4) elucidating the mechanistic basis for the replication bypass of damaged DNA by DNA polymerases. Overall, the mechanistic insights gained from my research program should ultimately lead to the identification of novel chemical agents, biomarkers, druggable targets and innovative strategies to selectively stop malignant cells while sparing healthy cells for precision medicine in the clinic.
Post-doctoral Fellowship - UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 10/2017
Ph.D. - Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 01/2012
