Research
There is compelling evidence from genomic instability/DNA damage syndromes (e.g. Ataxia Telangiectasia, Nijmegen Breakage Syndrome) that both cancer development as well as cellular senescence and aging are closely linked to genomic instability. Intriguingly, most of the genes mutated in these syndromes are regulators of the DNA damage response, DNA damage checkpoint signaling and/or DNA repair.
Our research is focused on the identification and characterization of signal transduction components involved in DNA damage signaling in somatic cells and in stem cells. We have a particular interest in the function and regulation of the tumor suppressive Ser/Thr protein kinases HIPK2 and ATM, and in the role of PML nuclear body (PML NB) components in DNA damage response and apoptosis regulation.
