LAHIRI LABORATORY

Many harmful chemicals in the environment challenge human DNA. Cells have evolved exquisite surveillance mechanisms known as DNA damage response (DDR), which maintain genome integrity following DNA damage. The aberrant regulation of DDR leads to genome instability and various diseases including cancer. My laboratory has been trying to dissect out the process by which DNA damage, lipid mediators in the micro-environment and deregulation of cell cycle checkpoint or anti-apoptotic genes can lead to cellular transformation of breast epithelial cells using three-dimensional breast acini as a model system.