The role of chromatin structure and various chromosomal proteins on repair endonuclease activity is being elucidated. Emphasis is placed on several cell lines deficient in excision repair of DNA, such as those from patients with the precancerous genetic diseases xeroderma pigmentosum and Fanconi anemia. Studies are being conducted on several genetic diseases, such as xeroderma pigmentosum, that are associated with defective repair of damaged DNA, and a markedly increased incidence of cancer. These studies have recently been extended to analysis of the neurological disorders amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and Alzheimer's disease. Various aspects of cellular and molecular immunology are being studied through research projects that dissect the host-tumor interactions involved in an experimental lymphoma model.
Research is conducted in the field of autoimmunity and malignancy.
Emphasis is on the study of a subpopulation of B and B-1 cells that are elevated in certain autoimmune disorders and are the malignant cells in most chronic lymphocytic leukemias. The laboratory is concerned with the study of oncogene expression in leukemic cells, and mechanisms by which chemical compounds inhibit DNA replication and induce differentiation of leukemic cells. Currently, the major interest is in the expression of oncogenes and transcription factors in differentiation, cell death by apoptosis, development of drug resistance, and cell-cycle control. The following faculty members of the department do not currently sponsor graduate thesis research but do contribute valuable expertise to the graduate program in various subdisciplines of pathology. Diabetes and autoimmunity.