John Krais, PhD

Medical School Department Internal Medicine
Research Program Breast Cancer Research, Solid Tumor Therapeutics
John Krais

Researcher Background

Primary Academic Title

Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Oncology, WashU Medicine

Training

  • 2010 - 2011: Research and Development Engineering Intern, FLIR Systems (ICx Agentase), Pittsburgh, PA
  • 2014 - 2022: Postdoctoral Fellow, Molecular Therapeutics, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA

Education

  • 2014: PhD, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK

Research & Selected Publications

Research Interest

The external environment and normal cellular processes can cause damage to DNA. Breaks to both strands of DNA are a significant threat to genome integrity and lead to a complex cellular response comprised of multiple DNA repair pathway options. Defects or inappropriate use of a repair mechanism impacts genome stability, cell survival, organismal development, and disease progression. Despite the consequential decision-making that occurs with each break, how a cell determines the appropriate repair mechanism remains poorly understood. Our laboratory investigates the signaling mechanisms that regulate double-strand DNA break repair to better understand cancer development and to design improved therapeutic approaches.

Research Publications

DNA repair and the contribution to chemotherapy resistance.
Authors:

Nesic K, Parker P, Swisher EM, Krais JJ

Journal & Year:

Genome Med • 2025

Genetic separation of Brca1 functions reveal mutation-dependent Polθ vulnerabilities.
Authors:

Krais JJ, Glass DJ, Chudoba I, one or more additional authors omitted Johnson N

Journal & Year:

Nat Commun • 2023