John A. Tainer

John A. Tainer is a Professor and Robert A. Welch Distinguished Professor Chair in Chemistry at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. His research integrates structural biology, biophysics, and molecular cell biology to elucidate DNA repair mechanisms and genome stability. Recent breakthroughs include defining the EEPD1 DNA clamping dimer that protects reversed replication forks, the BRCA2 C-terminal clamp restructuring RAD51 dimers for fork stability, and a substrate-mimicry mechanism for NADH-bound AIF activating the mitochondrial CHCHD4/MIA40 chaperone. His work also explores chemical trapping of inactive GRB2 dimers and epigenetic decouplers linking replication stress to anti-tumor immunity in pancreatic cancer. He holds an endowed distinguished chair and leads international collaborations on nucleic acid processing and replication stress responses.