Education: Ph.D. in Biochemistry, University of California, Berkeley
Current Position: Associate Professor of Molecular Biosciences, UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine
Research Interests: Designing and developing ultrasensitive
assays of human somatic mutation as biomarkers of environmental
exposure
The focus of Dr. Cortopassi's research is on the design and development of ultrasensitive assays of human somatic mutation which have the potential to be used as direct measurements of the genotoxic effects of human exposure to environmental mutagens. His laboratory has also developed an ultrasensitive assay that detects rare oncogenic mutations at the Bcl-2 protooncogene which can be used to detect low levels of oncogenic mutation in the majority of adults. Dr. Cortopassi's main role in the Center is to help other investigators who are looking at the genotoxic effects of environmental substances by providing our mutagenesis assays.
For more information on Dr. Cortopassi, please visit the following website: