Research Abstract

Oxidative DNA damage is a major source of genomic instability during tumorigenesis and aging. The main research interests of the Lan Laboratory are centered on the mechanisms by which human cells maintain genomic stability against oxidative stress. With a strong appreciation for how human health conditions, especially cancer and neurological maladies, are connected to the loss of genome integrity, ranging from intrinsic genetic predispositions to environmental factors that inflict DNA damage. My lab has developed the first single-cell assay to interrogate the molecular mechanisms of oxidative DNA damage response at specific loci in the genome. By combining this innovative assay with state-of-the-art imaging techniques, we have opened new avenues to understanding the oxidative DNA damage response in different chromosomal environments.