DNA is the building block for the genome and provides the blueprint for almost every aspect of life. DNA can be damaged by endogenous assaults such as replication errors, oxidative stress or by exogenous challenges such as radiation or toxic chemicals. Failure to repair such damage results in cell death or the accumulation of changes in DNA that can cause genetic diseases including cancers or can lead to premature aging. Research at the IBS Center for Genomic Integrity focused on molecular mechanisms of the many DNA damage response and repair pathways Finally, we develop small molecule modulators or CRISPR-Cas9 to control DNA repair pathways to exploit vulnerabilities of tumors in therapeutic settings.