UWMUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison · Biochemistry
DNA Damage and Repair Unit
Michael M. Cox · Madison, Wisconsin
Research Focus
Dr. Michael M. Cox's lab at the University of Wisconsin-Madison focuses on understanding how the DNA replication process works, especially when it gets interrupted by damages. They study the gaps that are left behind when DNA is copied incorrectly and how these gaps can lead to problems like cancer and antibiotic resistance in bacteria. The lab combines techniques from biochemistry, genetics, and molecular biology to explore these important issues and aim to find new ways to mitigate genomic instability and antibiotic resistance.
DNA repairpost-replication gapsgenomic instabilityantibiotic resistancebacterial pathogens
Research Aims
5AIM 01Investigate how post-replication gaps are formed during DNA replication.
AIM 02Characterize the proteins involved in repairing DNA gaps.
AIM 03Explore the role of single-stranded DNA binding proteins in DNA repair.
AIM 04Study the activation of mutagenic DNA polymerase V in bacteria.
AIM 05Identify new biological elements that influence the location of DNA gaps.
Skills the Lab Values
PCRmolecular cloningsingle-molecule methodsbacterial geneticsprotein purification
Output against the department
Publications380top 14% of dept.55th of 402
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations18ktop 25% of dept.99th of 402
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.