Sheila David

Sheila David is a Professor of Chemistry at the University of California, Davis, specializing in chemical biology and DNA repair mechanisms. Her research focuses on understanding the molecular basis of DNA base excision repair, particularly the role of enzymes like MUTYH and NEIL1 in recognizing and repairing oxidative DNA damage. Her work integrates enzymology, synthetic chemistry, and cell biology to bridge in vitro insights with in vivo repair processes, with implications for cancer therapy and mutagenesis prevention.

• Education:
• Ph.D. in Chemistry, University of Minnesota (1989)
• B.A. in Chemistry, Saint Olaf College (1984)
• Awards:
• ADVANCE Scholar Award (2018)
• ACS and AAAS Fellowships (2011/2010)
• Beckman Young Investigator and Sloan Fellow
• Research Interests: DNA glycosylases, oxidative stress, cancer biology, Fe-S cluster enzymes, and the structural basis of DNA repair.

Her lab, located in the Chemistry Annex, investigates how DNA repair enzymes like MUTYH and NEIL1 prevent mutations by targeting oxidative lesions such as 8-oxoguanine. Recent studies highlight the role of enzyme variants in cancer susceptibility and the impact of RNA editing on repair specificity. Collaborative projects include developing synthetic tools to probe repair mechanisms and exploring therapeutic applications of these findings.

Key grants include NIH postdoctoral training (1990-1992) and ongoing support for chemical biology initiatives. Her work bridges fundamental biochemistry with translational research in cancer and mutagenesis.