University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus · PharmacologyVan Houten Lab
Bennett Van Houten · Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Research Focus
Dr. Bennett Van Houten's lab at the University of Pittsburgh focuses on understanding how DNA repair proteins work together to protect the genome from damage caused by environmental factors. Using advanced imaging techniques and biochemical methods, the team studies the interactions between various DNA repair proteins and their role in different cellular contexts. The ultimate goal is to uncover the mechanisms of DNA repair, which can have implications for diseases like cancer and neurodegeneration.
DNA repairoxidative damagenucleotide excision repairbase excision repairchromatin remodeling
Research Aims
5AIM 01Investigate the dynamics of DNA repair protein interactions
AIM 02Explore the role of chromatin structure in DNA repair
AIM 03Develop genomic tools for targeted damage assessment
AIM 04Utilize super-resolution techniques to observe repair processes in real time
AIM 05Examine how DNA repair impacts gene expression profiles.
Skills the Lab Values
single molecule analysisDNA purificationfluorescence microscopychromatin assaysbiochemical assays
Output against the department
Publications372top 18% of dept.81st of 462
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations22ktop 14% of dept.66th of 462
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.