Dr. Lees-Miller obtained her BSc and PhD from the University of Wales, UK. She carried out post-doctoral training at the Biochemistry Department at the University of Alberta and Brookhaven National Laboratory, USA before joining the University of Calgary, Department of Biological Sciences in 1992 as an Assistant Professor. In 2003 she joined the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in the Faculty of Medicine where she is a Full Professor. Dr. Lees-Miller has published over 180 scientific articles that have been cited over 15,000 times. Her h index is 74. From 2003-2019 she held the Engineered Air Chair in Cancer Research and from 2015-2019 was Lead of the Robson DNA Science Centre at the Arnie Charbonneau Cancer Institute. In 2011 she was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada.
Biography
Area of Focus
- Mechanisms of DNA double strand break repair
Summary of Research
The main focus of Dr. Lees-Miller’s research lab is to understand how cells detect and repair ionizing radiation-induced DNA double strand breaks (DSBs). Of particular interest are the roles of the DNA-dependent protein kinase catalytic subunit (DNA-PKcs) and Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated (ATM) in DSB repair. The goal is to use this information to develop new targeted therapies for cancer patients.
Area Of Focus
- Mechanisms of DNA double strand break repair
Summary Of Research
The main focus of Dr. Lees-Miller’s research lab is to understand how cells detect and repair ionizing radiation-induced DNA double strand breaks (DSBs). Of particular interest are the roles of the DNA-dependent protein kinase catalytic subunit (DNA-PKcs) and Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated (ATM) in DSB repair. The goal is to use this information to develop new targeted therapies for cancer patients.