Sudha Sharma

Dr. Sudha Sharma is a Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Howard University College of Medicine, where she also serves as the Interim Director of the National Human Genome Center. She holds a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Banaras Hindu University, India, and completed postdoctoral training at the National Institute on Aging, NIH, and Harvard Medical School.

• Ph.D., Biochemistry, Banaras Hindu University (1998)

Her research focuses on DNA repair, genomic stability, and the role of DNA helicases in cancer and aging. She has a specific interest in RECQ helicases and their implications in breast cancer and genetic susceptibility syndromes. Her work integrates molecular biology, genomics, and cancer biology to understand how impaired DNA repair contributes to disease. She leads a medical course on Molecules and Cells and teaches graduate-level biochemistry.

Dr. Sharma’s recent publications highlight a strong trend in genome maintenance, DNA damage response, and cancer progression, particularly through the lens of RECQ1 helicase function. Her research spans mechanistic biochemistry, gene regulation, and translational oncology, with studies published in journals such as Nature Genetics, Molecular and Cellular Biology, and Frontiers in Oncology.

She has received continuous research funding from the NIH and NSF, supporting her laboratory’s investigations into DNA repair pathways and their dysregulation in cancer. Dr. Sharma is actively involved in mentoring graduate students and postdoctoral fellows and leads initiatives to increase the participation of women and minorities in STEM fields through directed research programs for undergraduate students.

She is a member of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB)’s Women in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Committee (2022–2025) and contributes to scientific peer review and editorial boards. Her lab hosts undergraduate and high school students for summer research experiences, reflecting her commitment to education and diversity in science.