scanR high-content imaging of the DNA damage response in human cells and disease

The DNA damage response is a complex combination of processes that detect DNA lesions, regulate chromosome shape and structure within the vicinity of DNA lesions, and facilitate the recruitment and activity of the necessary DNA repair proteins. In addition, cellular mechanisms for the regulation of gene expression, cell growth, and cell proliferation are tightly co-ordinated with the DNA damage response. Defects in the DNA damage response lead to a spectrum of human diseases ranging from cancer to neurodegeneration, and are a severe threat to human health and heathy ageing. Here, research scientists across the Genome Damage and Stability Centre, Sussex Drug Discovery Centre, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, and within the wider School of Life Sciences will employ high-content, high-throughput, multi-parameter microscopy to address and understand the full spectrum of cellular events that comprise the DNA damage response in human cells, and to exploit gene-editing technologies and drug-like chemical libraries to identify new components of the DNA damage response, with the ultimate aim of identifying and developing novel disease therapies.

The DNA damage response is a complex combination of processes that detect DNA lesions, regulate chromatin structure within the vicinity of DNA lesions, and facilitate the recruitment and activity of the necessary DNA repair enzymes. In addition, cellular mechanisms for the regulation of transcription and cell cycle progression are integrated and tightly co-ordinated as part of the DNA damage response. Defects in these processes lead to a spectrum of human diseases spanning from cancer to neurodegeneration, and are a severe threat to human health and heathy ageing. Here, research scientists across the Genome Damage and Stability Centre, Sussex Drug Discovery Centre, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, and within the wider School of Life Sciences will employ high-content high-throughput multi-parameter microscopy to address and understand the full spectrum of molecular processes that comprise the DNA damage response in human cells. In addition, we will exploit CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene editing and drug-like small molecule libraries to identify new components and regulators of the DNA damage response, with the ultimate aim of identifying and developing novel disease therapies.