University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill · BiochemistrySancar Lab
Aziz Sancar · Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Research Focus
Dr. Aziz Sancar's research lab at UNC Chapel Hill focuses on understanding how DNA damage and repair processes are influenced by the circadian clock — the body’s internal clock that regulates biological rhythms. The lab employs innovative techniques to map DNA damage and repair at a single-nucleotide level, aiming to improve cancer treatment and prevention by linking these mechanisms to health outcomes. By exploring the relationships between DNA repair, environmental carcinogens, and chronotherapy, the lab contributes significantly to our understanding of cancer biology and personalized medicine.
DNA RepairCircadian ClockCancer TherapyNucleotide Excision RepairGenome MappingDNA AdductsChronotherapyGenomicsMutagenesis
Research Aims
5AIM 01Map the molecular mechanisms of nucleotide excision repair in mammalian cells.
AIM 02Investigate the role of the circadian clock in regulating DNA repair processes.
AIM 03Develop strategies for cancer treatment that consider the timing of chemotherapy in relation to circadian rhythms.
AIM 04Identify the genomic locations of DNA lesions caused by environmental carcinogens and anticancer drugs.
AIM 05Enhance understanding of how DNA damage contributes to aging and diseases.
Skills the Lab Values
PCRCell CultureGenome-Wide SequencingBiochemical AnalysisProtein PurificationMouse ModelsDamage-seq TechniquesXR-seq TechniquesBioinformaticsData Mapping
Output against the department
Publications596top 6% of dept.26th of 402
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations49ktop 5% of dept.19th of 402
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.