Raquel Cuella Martin

Raquel Cuella Martin joined the Department of Human Genetics and the Canada Excellence Research Chair in Genomic Medicine as an assistant professor in August 2022. She undertook her Ph.D. studies at Dr. JR. Chapman’s lab at the Wellcome Center for Human Genetics (University of Oxford). During this time, Raquel described the mechanistic role of the DNA repair protein 53BP1 in optimal p53 tumour suppressor responses. In her postdoctoral work as an EMBO long-term fellow at the Ciccia lab (Columbia University), she used CRISPR-dependent base editing to perform genetic screens at nucleotide resolution and functionalize DNA variants at scale. Such an approach allowed her to identify loss-, gain- and separation-of-function mutations, and new functional domains in DNA damage response proteins, and to functionalize variants of uncertain significance in cancer predisposition syndromes. 

Research Interests

Our lab applies cutting-edge large-scale precision genome editing to address outstanding mechanistic questions in the DNA damage response and their association with human disorders. We believe that the swift incorporation of large-scale precision genome editing into the day-to-day benchwork at the functional genomics laboratory can transform our approach to complex biological questions. We are interested in the mechanisms whereby DNA repair and checkpoint control activities are integrated, and how they coordinate to preserve cellular homeostasis and suppress tumorigenesis. In addition, we are excited about the power of precision genome editing to understand disease-associated genetic variation and to improve intelligent drug design.