Bin Wang
Associate Professor
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Department of Genetics
Defects in the ability of cells to properly respond to and repair DNA damage result in genomic instability and underlie many forms of cancer. The goal of our research is to understand how cells respond to DNA damage and safeguard the integrity of the genome. We use combined functional and molecular approaches that involve imaging, CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing, genetic screens, high throughput sequencing, mass spectrometry, mouse model, etc. Our research interests span from DNA damage and replication stress response, protein ubiquitin and SUMO modification, telomere maintenance to tumor suppression and cancer metastasis.
Several examples of our ongoing projects are: (1) how the hereditary breast tumor suppressor BRCA1 interaction network maintains genome stability and suppresses breast tumor development and metastases (Castillo et al, Cell Report, 2014; Wu et al, Molecular Cell, 2016; Wu and Wang, Nature Communications, 2021); (2) how protein ubiquitin modification is involved in regulating DNA damage signaling and repair (Paul and Wang, Molecular Cell, 2017; Wu et al, Genes & Dev, 2019; Liu et al, Nature Communications, 2023); (3) how the cell protects genome stability in response to DNA replication stress (Xu et al, Genes & Dev, 2017); and how the failure of protection of stalled replication fork triggers activation of innate immune response (Emam et al, Nature Cell Biology, 2022).
Our lab has regular weekly lab meetings and journal clubs. Students in our lab previously have won multiple awards and scholarships, such as CPRIT scholarship, Schissler Foundation Fellowship for Translational Studies in Cancer Research, President’s Research Scholarship, American Legion Auxiliary Fellowship, etc. We welcome motivated students who wish to advance their training and career goals by tackling some of the fundamental issues facing the understanding and treatment of cancer.
Education & Training
Ph.D. - Baylor College of Medicine - 2000
Research Info
DNA damage response; genomic instability and cancer; BRCA1 signaling; ubiquitin signaling