DNA Repair Research
Program Lead
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Daniel Shaughnessy, Ph.D. (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/supported/dert/sphb/staff/shaughnessy/index.cfm)
Health Scientist Administrator -
Tel (919) 541-2506
Fax (919) 316-4606
shaughn1@niehs.nih.gov -
P.O. Box 12233
Mail Drop MD K3-12
Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709
Delivery Instructions
Program Description
DNA – the blueprint for living things - can be damaged by exposure to chemicals, UV light, dietary factors, and other agents. If the damage is not properly repaired, it can lead to mutations linked to diseases like cancer, Parkinson’s disease, schizophrenia, and epilepsy. NIEHS-supported researchers examine how environmental factors induce DNA damage and how cells respond to that damage through DNA repair —the body’s ability to fix damaged DNA – and other damage tolerance pathways.
Some chemicals in the environment bind to or cause breaks in DNA strands. Typically, cells respond to damaged DNA by either attempting to repair the damage or by dying if too much damage is left unrepaired. However, cells sometimes make mistakes processing DNA damage and introduce mutations or changes in the DNA sequence. These mutations can be passed along to new cells, resulting in abnormal cells and tissues. Depending on the nature and severity of the damage, these abnormal cells and tissues can cause a variety of diseases.
NIEHS researchers investigate these processes to understand how DNA damage and mutations increase disease risk and to determine what makes some people more vulnerable to environmental factors than others. In more than 70 NIEHS-funded research projects ( DNA Repair Research Grantees (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/supported/dert/sphb/programs/dna-repair/grantees/index.cfm) (http://www.niehs.nih.govhttp://edit:9992/Rhythmyx/assembler/render?sys_authtype=0&sys_variantid=567&sys_revision=1&sys_contentid=74767&sys_context=0) ), researchers aim to advance efforts to detect, prevent, and treat environmentally-induced diseases in which DNA damage plays a role.
Additional Program Contacts
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Leslie J. Reinlib, Ph.D. (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/supported/dert/sphb/staff/reinlib/index.cfm)
Health Scientist Administrator
Program Director -
Tel (919) 541-4998
Fax (919) 316-4606
reinlib@niehs.nih.gov -
P.O. Box 12233
Mail Drop MD EC-21
Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709
Delivery Instructions
