David A. Goukassian, MD, PhD. Center of Cancer Systems Biology Caritas St.Elizabeth's Medical Center Tufts University School of Medicine 736 Cambridge Street Boston, MA 02135   Tel: 617.789.3156 or 617.638.5541 Mail: david.goukassian [at] tufts.edu or dgoukass [at] bu.edu

A detailed description of David's work to date can be found on the SEMC webpage.

Education:

• MD, Yerevan Medical Institute, Yerevan, Republic of Armenia, 1984
• PhD, Central Advanced Training Institute for Physicians, Moscow, USSR, 1992
• 1996-1999 Post-Doctoral Fellowship, Gerontology, Molecular and Cell Biology, National Institute of Aging Training Grant, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
• Post-graduated courses in Dermatology, Genetics and Molecular and Cellular Biology, Central Advanced Training Institute for Physicians, Moscow, USSR, 1989-1992
• Clinical Fellowship/Residency in Dermatology and Venereology, Belorussian Advanced Training Institute for Physicians, Minsk, USSR, 1986-1989
• Internship, Cardiology, Nephrology, Endocrinology, Gastroenterology, Yerevan Medical Institute, Republic of Armenia, 1984-1985

David's research work to date has explored cellular responses to UV-induced DNA damage and the development of telomere homolog DNA oligonucleotide-based therapy for prevention of UV-induced mutagenesis and carcinogenesis. His current research work is heading towards development of novel treatment modalities for various UV- and other environmental carcinogen-induced human tumors including, but not limited to skin, breast, prostate and lung cancers. His work is also directed towards improvement of the age-associated decreases in DNA repair capacity. His current research involves evaluation of basic molecular and cellular mechanisms of carcinogenesis as well as an extensive translational research studying DNA damage-inducible responses in various DNA repair-efficient and repair-deficient murine models of Xeroderma Pigmentosum (XP) groups A and C that are also transgenic for LacZ mutation-indicator gene, melanoma prone Tyr-HRas/Ink4 and Arf null murine models in vivo, and in adult human skin organ-culture system ex-vivo. In particular, his studies are aimed to developing additional telomere homolog oligonucleotides-induced anti-cancer mechanisms/effects including, but most likely not limited to activation of anti-angiogenic and anti-inflammatory pathways.