John Krais, PhD

Dr. John Krais is a postdoctoral researcher in the laboratory of Dr. Neil Johnson at Fox Chase Cancer Center. John received his BS degree in bioengineering from the University of Pittsburgh in 2011 and PhD in biomedical engineering from the University of Oklahoma in 2014. As a graduate student working with Dr. Roger Harrison, John explored novel methodologies for targeted delivery of cancer therapeutics and focused on the preclinical development of strategies for targeting tumor vasculature. At Fox Chase Cancer Center, John was a recipient of a T32 postdoctoral fellowship and focused on investigating the DNA damage response in BRCA1 mutant cancers. John found reduced expression of the DNA damage signaling protein RNF168 in BRCA1 null cell lines and PDX models. John’s current project examines the regulation of RNF168 and its effects on the DNA damage response and cell viability in BRCA1 mutant ovarian cancers. The overarching goal of this work is to enhance the current understanding of DNA repair mechanisms in BRCA1 mutant ovarian cancers and to develop improved strategies for the treatment of BRCA1 mutation-carrying patients.