Jason Petersen, Ph.D.
Jason Petersen is a VA Research Scientist and an Assistant Professor at the USD School of Medicine.
Dr. Jason Petersen joined the Basic Research Division of the Avera Research Institute in July of 2006. Prior to that, he completed postdoctoral fellowships in the DEpartment of Biochemistry at the University of Iowa and at Eppley Cancer Center at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, where he received a NIH Ruth L. Kirchstein National Research Service Award (Individual Postdoctoral Fellowship). Dr. Petersen has published articles in the Journal of Biological Chemistry, Nucleic Acids Research, Journal of Immunology, and Immunologic Research.
Dr.Petersen is investigating the mechanisms used to repair UV-induced DNA damage. More specifically, he is using molecular genetic techniques to identify genes involved in DNA repair and molecular and cellular biology to characterize the roles that these genes play in their respective DNA repair process. Cells are subject to DNA damage induced by the ultraviolet (UV) component of sunlight. This damage can be mutagenic and potentially carcinogenic. The leading form of DNA damage caused by UV light, the cyclobutene pyrimidine dimer, has been shown to be the primary cause of non-melanoma skin cancer. To combat the damaging effects of UV light, cells have developed methods to repair this UV-induced DNA damage. The significane of these repair mechanisms is clear. When a form of DNA repair known as nucleotide excision repair is defective in humans, it results in a 1,000 fold increased incidence of skin cancer.