Introduction

The focus of the Rabinovitch laboratory is upon the studies of DNA damage and genetic instability in aging and during neoplastic progression.

In aging, we are interested in the connection between DNA damage, free radical theories of aging, disease, and lifespan. Transgenic mice that overexpress catalase and other antioxidant enzymes have enhanced longevity and are being examined to provide insights in this model system.

Studies of neoplastic progression focus on precancerous human gastrointestinal diseases and the hope that a better understanding of these disease processes will yield improved management of individual patients and their cancer risk. In this work, telomere shortening and chromosomal instability, as measured by PCR, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), DNA arrays, and flow cytometry are being studied in patients with ulcerative colitis, sporadic colon cancer, and Barrett's esophagus.


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Scheduling for Shared Resources
Department of Pathology
University of Washington
Nathan Shock Center for the Basic Biology of Aging