Dr. Karlene Cimprich

Biography

Karlene Cimprich is a Professor in Chemical Systems Biology and courtesy in the Biochemistry department. Her research laboratory focuses on the mechanisms cells use to maintain genome stability, with particular emphasis on DNA replication and the challenges that threaten accurate completion, leading to DNA damage. Her work employs a variety of approaches, including utilizing mammalian cells and Xenopus egg extracts, to investigate how cells sense DNA damage during replication and how they choose their responses to stalled replication forks, thus coordinating transcription with DNA replication. The study of genome instability, a hallmark of cancer and aging, has led to mechanistic discoveries that may point the way to new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for cancer and related diseases.

Research Interests