Assistant Professor of Human Genetics
Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine-MMG
Research Interests
Our laboratory research studies the role of higher-order structure and organization of chromosomes in fundamental biological processes in germ cells, including chromosome segregation, DNA damage repair, and germline maintenance. Proper organization of DNA is critical for the replication, repair and accurate segregation of genomic DNA. Specifically, we are focusing on the Structural Maintenance of Chromosomes (SMC) proteins, since SMC proteins are fundamental chromatin components that regulate higher-order chromosome organization. The combination of C. elegans genetics and cell biology provides powerful tools to dissect the in vivo functions of SMC protein complexes at both the molecular and cellular levels and their overall influence on the complex multicellular organism. Research in my laboratory has recently discovered a novel developmentally regulated function for a specific SMC protein complex in the germ cell lineage, where it serves an important role for maintaining genomic stability of germ cells and possibly in gametes. Ongoing efforts of my lab are focused on addressing the functional roles for SMC complexes in genomic stability, cell division and gametogenesis.
Education
- 1991: B.A. in Molecular Biology, Pomona College, Claremont, CA
- 1997: Ph.D. in Molecular Biology, University of California, Los Angeles
- 1998-2006: Postdoctoral Fellow, University of California, Berkeley
Current Lab Members
- Jayshree Khanikar, technician
- Killeen Kirkconnell, graduate student
- John Hsieh, undergraduate student
- Dane Session, undergraduate student
Former Lab Members
- Ashley Alker, technician, 2009
- Jeremy Bickel, technician, 2006-2011 (Cayman Chemicals, 2011)
- Liting Chen, undergraduate student, 2007-2010 (UPenn Med School, 2011)
- Chris Choi, undergraduate student, 2008-2009 (UC Berkeley Law School, 2009)
- Sandra Durkin, postdoc, 2008
- Ian Faulkner, undergraduate student, 2009-2011 (Biogen Idec, 2011)
- Jin Hayward, undergraduate student/technician, 2007-2008 (Graduate studies in Genetics at Seoul National University in South Korea, 2011)
- John Leverenz, undergraduate student, 2007-2008
- Koen Verbrugghe, postdoc, 2009-2011 (BD Accuri, 2011)
- Szu-Ling Yeap, undergraduate student, 2007-2009 (Graduate studies in the Biological Sciences at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, 2010)
Contact
Raymond C. Chan, Ph.D
University of Michigan
Department of Human Genetics
5814 Med Sci II
1241 E. Catherine St. SPC 5618
Ann Arbor, MI 48109 -5618
Phone: 734-615-5393 (office)
Phone: 734-615-5032 (lab)
Fax: 734-763-3784
Email: rchan@umich.edu
