Our research into DNA damage and repair
DNA contains the ‘instruction manual’ for the cell, packaged in the form of genes. Our genes tell cells when to multiply, what sort of cell to become, and when to die.
If DNA becomes damaged, and is not repaired properly, then the cell may no longer understand its instructions, and start to multiply out of control. This can lead to cancer.
Cancer Research UK-funded scientists have played a significant role in understanding how DNA is damaged and repaired by cells, and how mistakes in this process can lead to cancer.
Here are some of the highlights of our current research into DNA damage and how it is repaired.
On this page
Breast cancer
Prof David Phillips
Section of Molecular Carcinogenesis
The Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton
Investigating cancer-causing molecules in our environment
Professor David Phillips and his team are investigating how certain chemicals in our environment influence cancer development. They are involved in several national and international collaborations and are renowned in this field. Their research will increase our understanding of how cancer develops, and will lead to better ways of preventing several cancers, including breast and lung cancer.
No specific cancer type
Dr Simon Boulton
DNA Damage Response Laboratory
London Research Institute, London
Understanding how cells repair DNA damage
Dr Simon Boulton leads the DNA Damage Response lab at our London Research Institute. Damage to DNA - our genetic code - is at the heart of cancer development. Dr Boulton is investigating how cells normally sense DNA damage and repair it accurately. This cutting-edge work is providing valuable insights into what goes wrong in cancer cells.
Professor Aidan Doherty
Genome Damage and Stability Centre
University of Sussex, Brighton
Tying up the loose ends: how DNA damage is repaired
Professor Aidan Doherty is an expert in understanding how cells repair damage to DNA – their genetic ‘instruction manual’. DNA damage is the root cause of cancer, so understanding how cells recognise and repair it is vital to beating the disease.
Prof Steve Jackson
The Wellcome Trust/Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute of Cancer and Developmental Biology
University of Cambridge, Cambridge
Understanding DNA repair
Professor Steve Jackson is an award-winning scientist, who has been funded by Cancer Research UK for over 15 years. He is Head of Cancer Research UK Laboratories at the Wellcome Trust/Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute, where he leads a research team making incredible progress in understanding the important role of DNA repair and its link with cancer. Some of Professor Jackson's discoveries have already been developed into new treatments for cancer, and others are being tested in clinical trials.
Prof Nic Jones
Cell Regulation Group
Paterson Institute for Cancer Research, Manchester
How do cells react to stress?
Professor Nic Jones is Director of the Paterson Institute for Cancer Research in Manchester and became Cancer Research UK's Chief Scientist in February 2011. He leads the Cell Regulation Group who study how cells respond to sudden changes in their surroundings, known as 'environmental stress'. Professor Jones also directs the Manchester Cancer Research Centre, building on the world-class research already going on in the city.
Professor David Lilley
Nucleic Acid Structure Research Group
University of Dundee, Dundee
DNA repair: the first line of defence against cancer
Professor David Lilley is investigating how cells repair their DNA when it gets damaged. DNA repair is crucial for preventing genetic faults that can lead to cancer. Professor Lilley leads a world-class group of scientists at the University of Dundee, and their research into the processes at the heart of cancer will pave the way for new approaches to treating the disease.
Prof Gillies McKenna
Radiation Oncology and Biology
University of Oxford, Oxford
Improving radiotherapy treatment
Professor Gillies McKenna is a world expert in radiotherapy research. In 2006, he was recruited to the UK from the US to lead the Cancer Research UK - MRC Gray Institute for Radiation Oncology and Biology in Oxford. His research focuses on understanding the effect that radiation has on cells and how cancers can become resistant to radiotherapy. This knowledge will contribute to the improvement of radiotherapy techniques so that more people are successfully treated and experience a better quality of life.
Prof Karen Vousden
Tumour Suppression Group
Beatson Institute for Cancer Research, Glasgow
Understanding p53: the protein at the heart of cancer
Professor Karen Vousden’s world-leading research focuses on a protein called p53 - a key player in the body's defences against cancer. Her team is finding new ways to treat the disease by harnessing the power of this crucial protein in cancer cells. Professor Vousden is Director of the Beatson Institute for Cancer Research in Glasgow, where she leads the Tumour Suppression Group.
Increase text
Decrease text
Print this page
