William Baird

Our group is elucidating the mechanisms by which chemicals induce cancer.   The research focuses on carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), widespread environmental pollutants, and how they interact with DNA to cause mutations and cancer.   Specific research projects deal with the enzymes involved in activation and detoxification of PAH (especially tissue and species specific cytochrome P450 isoforms), analysis of PAH-DNA adducts by postlabeling, the role of DNA sequence and chromatin structure in PAH-DNA adduct formation, the fine structure of repair of PAH-DNA adducts, the relationship of specific PAH-DNA adducts to mutation, the role of p53 and cell cycle checkpoints in PAH-DNA damage repair, and the discovery of chemopreventive agents.   All of these projects relate directly to understanding the mechanism of action of carcinogenic chemicals to which large numbers of humans are exposed and are important for risk assessment and chemoprevention.