Seongmin Lee

Seongmin Lee is an Associate Professor of Chemical Biology & Medicinal Chemistry and Alan W. Hamm Centennial Fellow at the College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas at Austin. His laboratory investigates molecular mechanisms of DNA damage, repair, and mutagenesis with a focus on developing novel anticancer therapeutics targeting DNA repair pathways.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Chemistry from Purdue University
• B.S. in Chemistry from Seoul National University, South Korea

Dr. Lee's research program centers on oxidative and alkylative DNA lesions induced by environmental mutagens and chemotherapeutic agents. His team employs synthetic chemistry, biochemistry, and structural biology to elucidate how DNA lesions alter replication fidelity, induce mutations, and trigger cancer. Current projects examine platinum-based drug mechanisms, translesion synthesis polymerases, and DNA cross-link repair pathways with direct implications for overcoming chemotherapeutic resistance.

Analysis of his 15 most recent publications (2019-2021) reveals consistent focus on structural and mechanistic studies of DNA lesion bypass, with particular emphasis on oxidative adenine lesions (7,8-dihydro-8-oxoadenine), platinum-DNA adducts, and alkylative damage. The work integrates X-ray crystallography, kinetic assays, and synthetic lesion chemistry to map mutagenic pathways and identify therapeutic vulnerabilities in cancer cells.

Scientific Awards:

• Alan W. Hamm Centennial Fellow in Pharmacy

Dr. Lee actively mentors 4 current graduate students (Rozelle, Vilas, Schmaltz, Rodriguez) and has supervised 9 PhD graduates including Cheun, Kou, and Ouzon-Shubeita. His laboratory operates with continuous NIH and NSF funding supporting research on DNA-targeting drugs, with recent grants focused on platinum-based agent development and lesion bypass mechanisms. The team maintains collaborations with structural biologists and cancer pharmacologists across multiple institutions.

The Laboratory of DNA Damage and Repair and DNA-Targeting Drugs comprises 12 members including research fellows, graduate students, and undergraduates. Current projects involve synthesizing novel DNA lesions, characterizing polymerase bypass mechanisms, and developing next-generation platinum therapeutics with reduced resistance profiles. The lab maintains state-of-the-art facilities for synthetic chemistry, protein purification, and DNA damage analysis.