Professor and Garey Chair of Chemistry and Biochemistry Maha Zewail-Foote is the first author of a landmark publication in Nucleic Acids Research, a top journal in the field showcasing leading edge research. This publication, “Oxidative damage within alternative DNA structures results in aberrant mutagenic processing,” is the result of years of dedicated work and marks a major scholarly milestone. Conducted in collaboration with a research team at UT Austin, this work demonstrates that certain DNA structures are particularly susceptible to damage, contributing to genetic instability — a key factor in diseases like cancer.

Professor of Biochemistry and Garey Chair of Chemistry Maha Zewail-Foote gave an oral presentation for a special session on mechanisms of genomic repair and mutagenesis at the Southwest Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society in Waco, TX. Her presentation highlighted research conducted during her sabbatical, in collaboration with researchers at UT Austin.

Garey Chair and Professor of Chemistry & Biochemistry Maha Zewail-Foote co-authored a paper in a top journal, Briefings in Bioinformatics.She and her co-authors showed that DNA damage is localized within cancer-forming sequences across the human genome. This multidisciplinary research involved a unique collaboration with UT Austin professors in various disciplines.

Professor of Biochemistry and Garey Chair of Chemistry Maha Zewail-Foote presented “Biological and molecular consequences of oxidative damage on non-B DNA-induced genetic instability” at the 2024 American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology National Meeting.

Professor of Biochemistry and Garey Chair of Chemistry Maha Zewail-Foote delivered a presentation on effective strategies for improving diversity, inclusion, and belonging within undergraduate research laboratories at the 2024 American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology National Meeting. Her abstract was selected for the coveted spotlight talk for a special session on challenges and best practices in running a research program primarily with undergraduate students.