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鈥檚 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.
Since her studies have focused on the DNA damage response and their relevance to antitumorigenesis, she is excited about the potential collaborations that may result from her incorporation into the GCI. She also believes that her genome editing expertise can accelerate the research at the Institute. She feels excited to be part of the active community of the GCI, the enriching scientific discussions, seminars, and events for trainees.
Join us in welcoming Prof. Cuella Martin!
her research interests and recent publications听
You can contact her at raquel.cuella [at] mcgill.ca