I am an Assistant Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The Warren Albert Medical School, Brown University, Rhode Island, USA, where I began my tenure at the beginning of this year (2024). With a career dedicated to exploring the intricate realm of environmental genotoxicity and therapeutic-induced DNA lesions, I bring a wealth of experience and insight to my academic pursuits.
My journey into the field commenced during my doctoral studies at the Radiobiology laboratory of the University of Stellenbosch Medical School. Here, I delved deep into the protective and tolerance mechanisms that confer resistance to cancer cells against ionizing radiation, laying the groundwork for my subsequent endeavors. Following the completion of my Ph.D., I embarked on a transformative 21-year tenure in Germany, where I was stationed at the Institute of Toxicology, Johannes Gutenberg Universität Mainz.
In Germany, my research trajectory pivoted towards the study of DNA damage induced by alkylating agents, a significant class of compounds with implications both in environmental exposure and cancer therapy. Across my postdoctoral years (2002-2008) and later as a principal investigator (2009-2023), I meticulously dissected the cellular responses elicited by these agents. My investigations not only encompassed elucidating DNA repair pathways but also unraveling the intricate mechanisms governing cell death in response to genotoxic insults.
Rooted in a solid academic foundation in biochemistry and cell biology, my expertise in molecular toxicology has been honed through diverse research avenues. As Principal Investigator or co-investigator on various university and DFG (German Research Society) funded projects, I've demonstrated adeptness in steering research endeavors from conceptualization to fruition. My leadership has been instrumental in orchestrating research teams, defining research protocols, managing budgets, and fostering collaborative synergies with fellow researchers.
I staunchly believe in the ethos of transparent communication and the pragmatic delineation of research plans, timelines, and budgets. In summary, my academic journey underscores not only my expertise but also my commitment to advancing knowledge in the field of DNA repair.
| Saville, Kate M., Al-Rahahleh, Rasha Q., Siddiqui, Aisha H., Andrews, Morgan E., Roos, Wynand P., Koczor, Christopher A., Andrews, Joel F., Hayat, Faisal, Migaud, Marie E., Sobol, Robert W. "Oncometabolite 2-hydroxyglutarate suppresses basal protein levels of DNA polymerase beta that enhances alkylating agent and PARG inhibition induced cytotoxicity." DNA Repair, vol. 140, 2024, pp. 103700. |
| Rotheneder, Matthias, Stakyte, Kristina, van de Logt, Erik, Bartho, Joseph D., Lammens, Katja, Fan, Yilan, Alt, Aaron, Kessler, Brigitte, Jung, Christophe, Roos, Wynand P., Steigenberger, Barbara, Hopfner, Karl-Peter. "Cryo-EM structure of the Mre11-Rad50-Nbs1 complex reveals the molecular mechanism of scaffolding functions." Molecular Cell, vol. 83, no. 2, 2023, pp. 167-185.e9. |
| Rashan, Luay J., Özenver, Nadire, Boulos, Joelle C., Dawood, Mona, Roos, Wynand P., Franke, Katrin, Papasotiriou, Ioannis, Wessjohann, Ludger A., Fiebig, Heinz-Herbert, Efferth, Thomas. "Molecular Modes of Action of an Aqueous Nerium oleander Extract in Cancer Cells In Vitro and In Vivo." Molecules, vol. 28, no. 4, 2023, pp. 1871. |
| Krämer, Oliver H., Diehl, Tamara, Roos, Wynand P. "Assessing the Effect of Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors on DNA Double-Strand Break Repair by Nonhomologous End Joining." Methods in Molecular Biology, 2022, pp. 293-302. |
| Hanisch, Daniela, Krumm, Andrea, Diehl, Tamara, Stork, Carla M., Dejung, Mario, Butter, Falk, Kim, Ella, Brenner, Walburgis, Fritz, Gerhard, Hofmann, Thomas G., Roos, Wynand P. "Class I HDAC overexpression promotes temozolomide resistance in glioma cells by regulating RAD18 expression." Cell Death & Disease, vol. 13, no. 4, 2022. |
| Traube, Franziska R., Brás, Natércia F., Roos, Wynand P., Sommermann, Corinna C., Diehl, Tamara, Mayer, Robert J., Ofial, Armin R., Müller, Markus, Zipse, Hendrik, Carell, Thomas. "Epigenetic Anti‐Cancer Treatment With a Stabilized Carbocyclic Decitabine Analogue." Chemistry – A European Journal, vol. 28, no. 26, 2022. |
| Kiweler, Nicole, Schwarz, Helena, Nguyen, Alexandra, Matschos, Stephanie, Mullins, Christina, Piée-Staffa, Andrea, Brachetti, Christina, Roos, Wynand P., Schneider, Günter, Linnebacher, Michael, Brenner, Walburgis, Krämer, Oliver H. "The epigenetic modifier HDAC2 and the checkpoint kinase ATM determine the responses of microsatellite instable colorectal cancer cells to 5-fluorouracil." Cell Biology and Toxicology, vol. 39, no. 5, 2022, pp. 2401-2419. |
| Friedrich, Annabelle, Assmann, Ann-Sophie, Schumacher, Lena, Stuijvenberg, Jana v., Kassack, Matthias U., Schulz, Wolfgang A., Roos, Wynand P., Hansen, Finn K., Pflieger, Marc, Kurz, Thomas, Fritz, Gerhard. "In Vitro Assessment of the Genotoxic Hazard of Novel Hydroxamic Acid- and Benzamide-Type Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors (HDACi)." International Journal of Molecular Sciences, vol. 21, no. 13, 2020, pp. 4747. |
| Aasland, Dorthe, Götzinger, Laura, Hauck, Laura, Berte, Nancy, Meyer, Jessica, Effenberger, Melanie, Schneider, Simon, Reuber, Emelie E., Roos, Wynand P., Tomicic, Maja T., Kaina, Bernd, Christmann, Markus. "Temozolomide Induces Senescence and Repression of DNA Repair Pathways in Glioblastoma Cells via Activation of ATR–CHK1, p21, and NF-κB." Cancer Research, vol. 79, no. 1, 2019, pp. 99-113. |
| He, Yang, Roos, Wynand P., Wu, Qianchao, Hofmann, Thomas G., Kaina, Bernd. "The SIAH1–HIPK2–p53ser46 Damage Response Pathway is Involved in Temozolomide-Induced Glioblastoma Cell Death." Molecular Cancer Research, vol. 17, no. 5, 2019, pp. 1129-1141. |
| Roos, Wynand P., Frohnapfel, Larissa, Quiros, Steve, Ringel, Florian, Kaina, Bernd. "XRCC3 contributes to temozolomide resistance of glioblastoma cells by promoting DNA double-strand break repair." Cancer Letters, vol. 424, 2018, pp. 119-126. |
| Krumm A, Roos WP. "Assessing the Effect of Class I Histone Deacetylase Activity on DNA Double-Strand Break Repair by Homologous Recombination." Methods in Molecular Biology, vol. 1510, 2017, pp. 115-123. |
| Nikolova, Teodora, Roos, Wynand P., Krämer, Oliver H., Strik, Herwig M., Kaina, Bernd. "Chloroethylating nitrosoureas in cancer therapy: DNA damage, repair and cell death signaling." Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Reviews on Cancer, vol. 1868, no. 1, 2017, pp. 29-39. |
| Krumm, Andrea, Barckhausen, Christina, Kücük, Pelin, Tomaszowski, Karl-Heinz, Loquai, Carmen, Fahrer, Jörg, Krämer, Oliver Holger, Kaina, Bernd, Roos, Wynand Paul. "Enhanced Histone Deacetylase Activity in Malignant Melanoma Provokes RAD51 and FANCD2-Triggered Drug Resistance." Cancer Research, vol. 76, no. 10, 2016, pp. 3067-3077. |
| Roos WP, Krumm A. "The multifaceted influence of histone deacetylases on DNA damage signalling and DNA repair." Nucleic acids research, vol. 44, no. 21, 2016, pp. 10017-10030. |
| Roos, Wynand P., Thomas, Adam D., Kaina, Bernd. "DNA damage and the balance between survival and death in cancer biology." Nature Reviews Cancer, vol. 16, no. 1, 2015, pp. 20-33. |
| Knauer, Shirley K., Mahendrarajah, Nisintha, Roos, Wynand P., Krämer, Oliver H. "The inducible E3 ubiquitin ligases SIAH1 and SIAH2 perform critical roles in breast and prostate cancers." Cytokine & Growth Factor Reviews, vol. 26, no. 4, 2015, pp. 405-413. |
| Roos WP, Quiros S, Krumm A, Merz S, Switzeny OJ, Christmann M, Loquai C, Kaina B. "B-Raf inhibitor vemurafenib in combination with temozolomide and fotemustine in the killing response of malignant melanoma cells." Oncotarget, vol. 5, no. 24, 2014, pp. 12607-20. |
| Fahrer J, Huelsenbeck J, Jaurich H, Dörsam B, Frisan T, Eich M, Roos WP, Kaina B, Fritz G. "Cytolethal distending toxin (CDT) is a radiomimetic agent and induces persistent levels of DNA double-strand breaks in human fibroblasts." DNA Repair, vol. 18, 2014, pp. 31-43. |
| Hähnel, Patricia S., Enders, Birgit, Sasca, Daniel, Roos, Wynand P., Kaina, Bernd, Bullinger, Lars, Theobald, Matthias, Kindler, Thomas. "Targeting components of the alternative NHEJ pathway sensitizes KRAS mutant leukemic cells to chemotherapy." Blood, vol. 123, no. 15, 2014, pp. 2355-2366. |
| Eich, Marcus, Roos, Wynand Paul, Nikolova, Teodora, Kaina, Bernd. "Contribution of ATM and ATR to the Resistance of Glioblastoma and Malignant Melanoma Cells to the Methylating Anticancer Drug Temozolomide." Molecular Cancer Therapeutics, vol. 12, no. 11, 2013, pp. 2529-2540. |
| Roos, Wynand P., Kaina, Bernd. "DNA damage-induced cell death: From specific DNA lesions to the DNA damage response and apoptosis." Cancer Letters, vol. 332, no. 2, 2013, pp. 237-248. |
| Barckhausen, C, Roos, W P, Naumann, S C, Kaina, B. "Malignant melanoma cells acquire resistance to DNA interstrand cross-linking chemotherapeutics by p53-triggered upregulation of DDB2/XPC-mediated DNA repair." Oncogene, vol. 33, no. 15, 2013, pp. 1964-1974. |
| Knizhnik, Anna V., Roos, Wynand P., Nikolova, Teodora, Quiros, Steve, Tomaszowski, Karl-Heinz, Christmann, Markus, Kaina, Bernd. "Survival and Death Strategies in Glioma Cells: Autophagy, Senescence and Apoptosis Triggered by a Single Type of Temozolomide-Induced DNA Damage." PLoS ONE, vol. 8, no. 1, 2013, pp. e55665. |
| Knizhnik, A, Quiros, S, Barckhausen, C, Roos, WP, Kaina, B. "DNA Damaging Drugs in the Treatment of Glioblastoma: HR, Apoptosis, Autophagy and Senescence." Klinische Pädiatrie, vol. 224, no. 06, 2012. |
| Huelsenbeck, Stefanie C., Schorr, Anne, Roos, Wynand P., Huelsenbeck, Johannes, Henninger, Christian, Kaina, Bernd, Fritz, Gerhard. "Rac1 Protein Signaling Is Required for DNA Damage Response Stimulated by Topoisomerase II Poisons." Journal of Biological Chemistry, vol. 287, no. 46, 2012, pp. 38590-38599. |
| Roos, Wynand P., Jöst, Eva, Belohlavek, Christina, Nagel, Georg, Fritz, Gerhard, Kaina, Bernd. "Intrinsic Anticancer Drug Resistance of Malignant Melanoma Cells Is Abrogated by IFN-β and Valproic Acid." Cancer Research, vol. 71, no. 12, 2011, pp. 4150-4160. |
| Christmann, Markus, Verbeek, Barbara, Roos, Wynand P., Kaina, Bernd. "O6-Methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) in normal tissues and tumors: Enzyme activity, promoter methylation and immunohistochemistry." Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Reviews on Cancer, vol. 1816, no. 2, 2011, pp. 179-190. |
| Quiros, Steve, Roos, Wynand Paul, Kaina, Bernd. "Rad51 and BRCA2 - New Molecular Targets for Sensitizing Glioma Cells to Alkylating Anticancer Drugs." PLoS ONE, vol. 6, no. 11, 2011, pp. e27183. |
| Eich, Marcus, Roos, Wynand P., Dianov, Grigory L., Digweed, Martin, Kaina, Bernd. "Nijmegen Breakage Syndrome Protein (NBN) Causes Resistance to Methylating Anticancer Drugs Such as Temozolomide." Molecular Pharmacology, vol. 78, no. 5, 2010, pp. 943-951. |
| Quiros S, Roos WP, Kaina B. "Processing of O6-methylguanine into DNA double-strand breaks requires two rounds of replication whereas apoptosis is also induced in subsequent cell cycles." Cell Cycle, vol. 9, no. 1, 2010, pp. 168-78. |
| Jöst, Eva, Roos, Wynand P., Kaina, Bernd, Schmidberger, Heinz. "Response of pancreatic cancer cells treated with interferon-α or β and co-exposed to ionising radiation." International Journal of Radiation Biology, vol. 86, no. 9, 2010, pp. 732-741. |
| Roos, Wynand P., Nikolova, Teodora, Quiros, Steve, Naumann, Steffen C., Kiedron, Olivia, Zdzienicka, Małgorzata Z., Kaina, Bernd. "Brca2/Xrcc2 dependent HR, but not NHEJ, is required for protection against O6-methylguanine triggered apoptosis, DSBs and chromosomal aberrations by a process leading to SCEs." DNA Repair, vol. 8, no. 1, 2009, pp. 72-86. |
| Brozovic, Anamaria, Damrot, Julia, Tsaryk, Roman, Helbig, Lars, Nikolova, Teodora, Hartig, Cornelia, Osmak, Maja, Roos, Wynand Paul, Kaina, Bernd, Fritz, Gerhard. "Cisplatin sensitivity is related to late DNA damage processing and checkpoint control rather than to the early DNA damage response." Mutation Research/Fundamental and Molecular Mechanisms of Mutagenesis, vol. 670, no. 1-2, 2009, pp. 32-41. |
| Damrot, Julia, Helbig, Lars, Roos, Wynand P., Barrantes, Steve Q., Kaina, Bernd, Fritz, Gerhard. "DNA Replication Arrest in Response to Genotoxic Stress Provokes Early Activation of Stress-Activated Protein Kinases (SAPK/JNK)." Journal of Molecular Biology, vol. 385, no. 5, 2009, pp. 1409-1421. |
| Batista, Luis F.Z., Roos, Wynand P., Kaina, Bernd, Menck, Carlos F.M. "p53 Mutant Human Glioma Cells Are Sensitive to UV-C-Induced Apoptosis Due to Impaired Cyclobutane Pyrimidine Dimer Removal." Molecular Cancer Research, vol. 7, no. 2, 2009, pp. 237-246. |
| Naumann, S C, Roos, W P, Jöst, E, Belohlavek, C, Lennerz, V, Schmidt, C W, Christmann, M, Kaina, B. "Temozolomide- and fotemustine-induced apoptosis in human malignant melanoma cells: response related to MGMT, MMR, DSBs, and p53." British Journal of Cancer, vol. 100, no. 2, 2009, pp. 322-333. |
| Roos, Wynand Paul, Tsaalbi-Shtylik, Anastasia, Tsaryk, Roman, Güvercin, Fatma, de Wind, Niels, Kaina, Bernd. "The Translesion Polymerase Rev3L in the Tolerance of Alkylating Anticancer Drugs." Molecular Pharmacology, vol. 76, no. 4, 2009, pp. 927-934. |
| Goldstein, Michael, Roos, Wynand P., Kaina, Bernd. "Apoptotic death induced by the cyclophosphamide analogue mafosfamide in human lymphoblastoid cells: Contribution of DNA replication, transcription inhibition and Chk/p53 signaling." Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology, vol. 229, no. 1, 2008, pp. 20-32. |
| Li, Paul C.H., Lam, Elena, Roos, Wynand P., Zdzienicka, Małgorzata Z., Kaina, Bernd, Efferth, Thomas. "Artesunate Derived from Traditional Chinese Medicine Induces DNA Damage and Repair." Cancer Research, vol. 68, no. 11, 2008, pp. 4347-4351. |
| Christmann, Markus, Tomicic, Maja T., Gestrich, Christopher, Roos, Wynand P., Bohr, Vilhelm A., Kaina, Bernd. "WRN protects against topo I but not topo II inhibitors by preventing DNA break formation." DNA Repair, vol. 7, no. 12, 2008, pp. 1999-2009. |
| Batista, Luís F.Z., Roos, Wynand P., Christmann, Markus, Menck, Carlos F.M., Kaina, Bernd. "Differential Sensitivity of Malignant Glioma Cells to Methylating and Chloroethylating Anticancer Drugs: p53 Determines the Switch by Regulating xpc, ddb2, and DNA Double-Strand Breaks." Cancer Research, vol. 67, no. 24, 2007, pp. 11886-11895. |
| Kaina, Bernd, Christmann, Markus, Naumann, Steffen, Roos, Wynand P. "MGMT: Key node in the battle against genotoxicity, carcinogenicity and apoptosis induced by alkylating agents." DNA Repair, vol. 6, no. 8, 2007, pp. 1079-1099. |
| Roos, W P, Christmann, M, Fraser, S T, Kaina, B. "Mouse embryonic stem cells are hypersensitive to apoptosis triggered by the DNA damage O6-methylguanine due to high E2F1 regulated mismatch repair." Cell Death & Differentiation, vol. 14, no. 8, 2007, pp. 1422-1432. |
| Roos, W P, Batista, L F Z, Naumann, S C, Wick, W, Weller, M, Menck, C F M, Kaina, B. "Apoptosis in malignant glioma cells triggered by the temozolomide-induced DNA lesion O6-methylguanine." Oncogene, vol. 26, no. 2, 2006, pp. 186-197. |
| Roos, Wynand P., Kaina, Bernd. "DNA damage-induced cell death by apoptosis." Trends in Molecular Medicine, vol. 12, no. 9, 2006, pp. 440-450. |
| Nübel, Tobias, Damrot, Julia, Roos, Wynand P., Kaina, Bernd, Fritz, Gerhard. "Lovastatin Protects Human Endothelial Cells from Killing by Ionizing Radiation without Impairing Induction and Repair of DNA Double-Strand Breaks." Clinical Cancer Research, vol. 12, no. 3, 2006, pp. 933-939. |
| Damrot, J, Nübel, T, Epe, B, Roos, W P, Kaina, B, Fritz, G. "Lovastatin protects human endothelial cells from the genotoxic and cytotoxic effects of the anticancer drugs doxorubicin and etoposide." British Journal of Pharmacology, vol. 149, no. 8, 2006, pp. 988-997. |
| Hermisson, Mirjam, Klumpp, Andrea, Wick, Wolfgang, Wischhusen, Jörg, Nagel, Georg, Roos, Wynand, Kaina, Bernd, Weller, Michael. "O6‐methylguanine DNA methyltransferase and p53 status predict temozolomide sensitivity in human malignant glioma cells." Journal of Neurochemistry, vol. 96, no. 3, 2006, pp. 766-776. |
| Roos, Wynand, Baumgartner, Manuela, Kaina, Bernd. "Apoptosis triggered by DNA damage O6-methylguanine in human lymphocytes requires DNA replication and is mediated by p53 and Fas/CD95/Apo-1." Oncogene, vol. 23, no. 2, 2004, pp. 359-367. |
| Dunkern, Torsten, Roos, Wynand, Kaina, Bernd. "Apoptosis induced by MNNG in human TK6 lymphoblastoid cells is p53 and Fas/CD95/Apo-1 related." Mutation Research/Reviews in Mutation Research, vol. 544, no. 2-3, 2003, pp. 167-172. |
| Böhm, Lothar, Roos, Wynand Paul, Serafin, Antonio Mendes. "Inhibition of DNA repair by Pentoxifylline and related methylxanthine derivatives." Toxicology, vol. 193, no. 1-2, 2003, pp. 153-160. |
| Christmann, Markus, Tomicic, Maja T., Roos, Wynand P., Kaina, Bernd. "Mechanisms of human DNA repair: an update." Toxicology, vol. 193, no. 1-2, 2003, pp. 3-34. |
| Akudugu JM, Slabbert JP, Roos WP, Böhm L. "Micronucleus response of human glioblastoma and neuroblastoma cells toward low-LET photon and high-LET p(66)/Be neutron irradiation." American Journal of Clinical Oncology, vol. 26, no. 3, 2003, pp. e1-6. |
| Roos WP, Binder A, Böhm L. "The influence of chromatin structure on initial DNA damage and radiosensitivity in CHO-K1 and xrs1 cells at low doses of irradiation 1-10 Gy." Radiation and environmental biophysics, vol. 41, no. 3, 2002, pp. 199-206. |
| P. Roos, A. Binder, L. Böhm, W. "Determination of the initial DNA damage and residual DNA damage remaining after 12 hours of repair in eleven cell lines at low doses of irradiation." International Journal of Radiation Biology, vol. 76, no. 11, 2000, pp. 1493-1500. |
| Year | Degree | Institution |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | PhD | University of Stellenbosch |
| 1997 | BSc | University of Stellenbosch |
2013 Gesellschaft für Biologische Strahlenforschung Poster Award, Darmstadt, 2013
2008 Mutagenesis/Oxford University Press Poster Award. At the European Environmental Mutagen Society meeting, Cavtat, 2008.
2006 The Deutsche Gesellschaft für DNA-Reparaturforschung (German Society of Research on DNA Repair) Poster Award for outstanding scientific presentation 2006.
2000 Struwig-Germeshuysen Cancer Research Bursary 2000.
2000 The South African Association of Physicists in Medicine and Biology (SAAPMB) Incentive Award for Most Promising Young Scientist 2000.
1999 Struwig-Germeshuysen Cancer Research Bursary of Merit 1999.
1996 Stellenbosch 2000 Bursary of Merit 1996.| Assistant Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine. Brown Unversity , 2024- |
| Group leader. University Medicine Mainz, 2009-2023 |
| Postdoctoral fellow. Johannes Gutenberg Universität Mainz, 2002-2008 |
