Our laboratory focuses on understanding the intricate mechanisms of endogenous DNA damage that occur during the transcription process, with a particular emphasis on R-loop mediated DNA damage. R-loops are three-stranded nucleic acid structures formed when an RNA transcript hybridizes with a complementary DNA strand, leaving the other DNA strand single-stranded. While R-loops play essential roles in regulating gene expression and chromatin dynamics, their persistent formation can lead to genomic instability and DNA damage.

In our lab, we are deeply engaged in the study of synthetic lethality as a strategy to understand and exploit vulnerabilities in cancer cells and other disease contexts. Synthetic lethality occurs when the simultaneous disruption of two genes leads to cell death, while the disruption of either gene alone is non-lethal. This concept offers a powerful approach to selectively target cancer cells that have specific genetic defects, particularly in DNA repair pathways.