John-Stephen Taylor

John-Stephen Taylor is a Professor of Chemistry at Washington University, with a PhD from Columbia University and an SB from MIT. His research focuses on bioorganic chemistry, nucleic acids, and the mechanisms of DNA damage caused by sunlight, particularly in melanoma and skin cancer contexts. He investigates pathways like the 'dark' chemosensitization via dioxetanes and the role of nucleosome positioning in deamination processes.

Education: PhD in Chemistry (Columbia University), SB in Chemistry (MIT). Key research areas include DNA photoproducts, telomeric DNA structures, and the interplay between DNA damage and epigenetic factors. Techniques employed span computational chemistry, organic synthesis, and advanced spectroscopic methods (e.g., MALDI, NMR).

Research highlights include discovering new photoproducts in G-quadruplex structures and elucidating deamination dynamics in nucleosomes. His work bridges chemistry, biology, and medicine, with applications in cancer diagnostics and therapy.

• Awards: NIH Merit Award (1993-2001), Alfred P. Sloan Fellowship (1988-1990), and multiple teaching awards.
• Grants: Sustained NIH funding and industry collaborations in drug delivery systems.

Publications emphasize DNA photoproduct formation, nucleosome effects on mutagenesis, and innovative imaging agents. His lab develops tools for mRNA detection using PNA-functionalized nanoparticles and explores nanotechnology applications in cancer research.