DNA Damage and Cellular Defense

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The DNA Damage and Cellular Defense (DDCD) Program is a highly interactive group of 23 members of the Comprehensive Cancer Center of Wake Forest University, representing 7 Departments and Sections. The overall scientific goal within the DDCD Program is to understand the mechanisms and processes whereby cells sustain - or alternatively, mitigate by prevention or repair - damage to DNA or other critical macromolecular structures. The Program encourages translational strategies that employ either novel chemotherapeutics or chemopreventive agents. Research focus in the DDCD program can be represented within two thematic aims: 1) To determine mechanisms of damage to DNA and other macromolecules by chemical agents or radiation, and how this damage results in detrimental carcinogenic effects or beneficial anticancer effects (in chemc¿ and radiation therapy); and 2) To identify cellular defense mechanisms that function in prevention of carcinogenesis and modulation of tumor sensitivity to cytotoxic chemotherapy and radiation therapy. The DDCD Program has a strong funding and productivity record. Total NCI and other peer-reviewed funding has more than tripled from $1.81M to $6.28M since the previous review. Members are highly interactive, with 54 of 203 intra-programmatic publications (26.6%) and 18 inter-programmatic publications (8.9%). Also, a number of grant co-investigatorships have resulted from both established and new collaborations (66.7% of grants have a formal collaboration with another CCCWFU member). Members rely on CCCWFU core lab services in support of their research, and have made efficient use of CCCWFU pilot funding: many pilot projects have matured into grant applications and some into funded grants. The Program meets in a biweekly seminar format, and holds an annual retreat. Three new monthly interest subgroups have begun, one on signaling functions of antioxidant enzymes, a second on DNA damage, repair, and mutagenesis, and a third group of clinicians and basic scientists to develop new translational research collaborations in lung cancer.