My research interest is to understand the interplay between genome integrity pathways and breast cancer initiation, progression, and response to therapy. The DNA damage response (DDR) is an evolutionarily conserved network of DNA damage sensors, mediators, and effectors that is responsible for maintaining genomic integrity in the face of intrinsic (e.g. oxidized DNA, incorporated ribonucleotides, replication-associated single- and double-strand breaks) and extrinsic (e.g. ionizing radiation, alkylating agents, other clastogen exposures) DNA damage. Germline aberrations in the DDR pathway are known to predispose to cancer (e.g. BRCA1-2, XPA-G, FANCA-P, etc.), but the significance of the DDR in sporadic tumorigenesis is only beginning to emerge.