Tomohiko Sugiyama

Tomohiko Sugiyama is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences within the College of Arts and Sciences at Ohio University. His research laboratory is based in the Life Science Building, where he investigates molecular mechanisms of DNA repair and mutagenesis with implications for cancer etiology.

Research Interests: Dr. Sugiyama's work focuses on understanding the biochemical basis of mutagenic processes that lead to cancer. Using in vitro models, purified enzymes, and next-generation sequencing, his lab studies how environmental carcinogens like UV radiation generate characteristic mutation signatures observed in cancers. His research aims to identify and characterize mutation profiles of potential carcinogens to improve cancer prevention strategies.

Publication Trends: His recent publications center on DNA repair mechanisms, particularly the roles of proteins such as PCNA, Rad51, and Rad52 in homologous recombination and translesion synthesis. These studies employ biochemical and molecular genetic approaches to dissect DNA damage response pathways.

Awards and Funding:

• NIH R15 Grant (2015–2019) as Principal Investigator for project titled 'NGS-based analysis of mutation signatures during the translesion synthesis'.

Advising and Teaching: Dr. Sugiyama teaches undergraduate courses including BIOS3200 (Fundamentals of Animal Cell Biology), BIOS2250 (Genetics and Human Society), and BIOS4630/4635 (Biological Chemistry lecture and lab). While no current students are listed, his lab provides research opportunities in molecular biology and cancer genetics.

Laboratory and Research Team: His lab is located in Life Science Building 240 at Ohio University, where he leads research on DNA repair mechanisms and mutagenesis using biochemical and genomic tools.