Richard D. Wood, Ph.D.
Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, Division of Discovery Science
About Dr. Richard D. Wood
Richard D. received a BS (Mathematics, Biology) from Westminster College, Salt Lake City. and a PhD (Biophysics) from the University of California, Berkeley. He was an NSF and NIH graduate fellow. Following postdoctoral training at Yale University at the Imperial Cancer Research Fund (ICRF), Wood was appointed to the ICRF faculty and advanced to become Principal Scientist and Honorary Professor at University College, London. From 2001-2008, he was the Richard Cyert Professor of Molecular Oncology and Leader of the Molecular and Cellular Biology Program at the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute. Wood has been recognized by election to the Royal Society (1997), EMBO (1998), as a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (2013), the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (2018) and the National Academy of Sciences (2023). He received the Meyenburg Award for Cancer Research in 1998 and is a member of The Texas Academy of Medicine, Engineering and Sciences and Technology (TAMEST). His laboratory has benefitted from external funding including grants from the NIH, DOD, EMBO, the Human Frontiers Science Program, and the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science. He has trained over thirty graduate students and postdoctoral fellows who are now internationally engaged in a diversity of careers in industry and academia.
Links:
The Royal Society - https://royalsociety.org/people/richard-wood-12559/
TAMEST - https://tamest.org/
American Academy of Arts and Sciences - https://www.amacad.org/
National Academy of Sciences - https://www.nasonline.org/
Present Title & Affiliation
Primary Appointment
Deputy Chair, Department of Epigenetics & Molecular Carcinogenesis, Division of Discovery Science, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
J. Ralph Meadows Chair in Carcinogenesis, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Professor, Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Research Interests
Investigating mechanisms of DNA repair in human cells and using this knowledge to help prevent and treat cancer.
Education & Training
Degree-Granting Education
| 1981 | University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, US, Ph.D. in Biophysics |
| 1977 | Westminster College, Salt Lake City, Utah, US, BS in Biology, Mathematics |
Postgraduate Training
| 1985-1988 | Postdoctoral Fellow, Imperial Cancer Research Fund, Clare Hall Laboratories, South Mimms, Hertfordshire |
| 1982-1985 | Research Fellowship, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut |
Experience & Service
Faculty Academic Appointments
Grady F. Saunders Distinguished Professor in Molecular Biology, Department of Epigenetics & Molecular Carcinogenesis, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Smithville, Texas, 2008 - 2020
Richard Cyert Professor of Molecular Oncology, Department of Pharmacology (Professor) & Biological Sciences (Adjunct Professor), University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 2001 - 2008
Principal Scientist, Imperial Cancer Research Fund, Clare Hall Laboratories, South Mimms, 1997 - 2001
Honorary Professor, University College, London, 1997 - 2001
Senior Scientist, imperial Cancer Research Fund, Clare Hall Laboratories, South Mimms, 1992 - 1997
Research Scientist, Imperial Cancer Research Fund, Clare Hall Laboratories, South Mimms, 1988 - 1992
Administrative Appointments/Responsibilities
Chair, ad interim, Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, 2023 - 2024
Co-leader, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, 2023 - 2025
Deputy Chair, Department of Epigenetics & Molecular Carcinogenesis, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, 2020 - 2023
Co-Director, Center for Environmental and Molecular Carcinogenesis, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Smithville, Texas, 2013 - 2016
Associate Director for Faculty Academic Programs, Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Smithville, Texas, 2010 - 2023
Associate Director for Facilities, Department of Carcinogenesis, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Smithville, Texas, 2009 - 2010
Leader, Molecular Biology Program, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 2001 - 2008
Institutional Committee Activities
Member, O'Donnell Awards Biological Sciences Subcommittee, 2025 - 2028
Member, Professional Transition Academic Committee, 2025 - Present
Member, Advisory Committee, Chair Search, EMC, 2023 - 2024
Member, Advisory Committee, Chair Search, Systems Biology, 2021
Internal Reviewer, Jack and Beverly Randall Prize for Excellence in Cancer Research, 2021
Member, External Advisory Board, 2020 - 2023
Review Panel, Member, Faculty Achievement Awards, 2020
Chair, Shared Resources / Cores Planning Committee for Houston Move, 2019 - 2021
Departmental Senator, Faculty Senate, 2018 - 2020
Internal Advisory Committee, MD Anderson NCI SPORE on Endometrial Cancer, 2017 - 2020
Member, Advisory Board, 2016 - 2020
Member, Faculty Grievance Oversight Committee, 2016 - 2025
Member, Advisory Board, 2015 - 2016
Chair, Strategic Planning Committee for Appointments, Promotions and Tenure, 2015 - 2016
Co-Chair, Sabin Faculty Fellowships (Basic Research), 2015 - 2019
Vice Chair, Sabin Fellows Award Committee, 2015 - 2019
Member, Faculty Search Committee (Veterinary Pathologist), 2015 - 2016
Vice Chair, MD Anderson Promotion and Tenure Committee (PTC), 2012 - 2014
Member, MD Anderson Promotion and Tenure Committee (PTC), 2011 - 2015
Careers Panel Member, Summer Undergraduate Research Program, 2011
Member, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Technology Task Force, 2010 - 2014
Chair, GSBS Candidacy Examination Subcommittee for Molecular Carcinogenesis Program, 2010 - 2021
Chair, Faculty Search Committee, Department of Molecular Carcinogenesis, UT MD Anderson, 2010 - 2012
Member, Advisory Board, 2009 - 2010
Member, Institutional Biosafety Committee, Faculty Senate, 2008 - 2009
Member, Faculty Search Committee for Cancer Prevention, 2008 - 2009
Member, Postdoctoral Training Grant committee (Molecular Carcinogenesis), 2008 - 2014
Member, Institutional Biosafety Committee, 2008 - 2011
Member, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (GSBS) Molecular Carcinogenesis Program Graduate Education Steering Committee, 2008 - 2020
Member, Scientific Committee, 2007 - 2008
Chairman, Microbiology and Molecular Genetics Chair search committee, 2007 - 2008
Member, The DNA Repair Company Advisory Board, 2007 - 2009
Member, Scientific Advisory Board, 2006
Member, External Advisory Board, 2006 - 2007
Chairman, Distinguished Faculty Committee, 2004 - 2005
Members, External Advisory Board, P01 on Chemistry and Biology of Carcinogen-DNA Adducts, 2004 - 2013
Member, Distinguished Faculty Committee, 2003 - 2004
Member, Organizing committee, UPCI International Cancer Conference, 2003 - 2003
Chairman, Dickson Prize Committee, 2003 - 2007
Member, Shared Resources Review committee, 2002
Member, Brain Tumor Center Internal Advisory Board, 2002 - 2006
Member, Cytogenetics service, Internal Advisory Board, 2002 - 2006
Member, Department of Pharmacology, Promotions & Appointments Committee, 2002 - 2008
Member, Department of Pediatrics training grant Internal Advisory Board, 2002 - 2008
Member, Health Sciences Research Advisory Committee,, 2001 - 2008
Member, Pre-NPEBC advisory committee, Center for Computational Biology, 2001 - 2008
Search Committee Member, Recruitment for Molecular & Cellular Biology Program & Center for Computational Biology, 2001 - 2008
Member, Mellon Professor search committee, 2001 - 2005
Chairman and Trustee, Scientific Committee, 2000 - 2001
Secretary, ICRF Laboratory Research Committee, 1997
Member, ICRF Laboratory Research Committee, 1995 - 1998
Chairman, Cell Services Executive Committee, 1994 - 2001
Honors & Awards
| 2023 | Elected Member, National Academy of Sciences, USA |
| 2021 | EMGS Award (Basic Research), Environmental Mutagenesis & Genomics Society |
| 2021 | R. Lee Clark Prize (Basic/Translational Research), The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| 2019 | President's Recognition of Faculty Excellence (Research Excellence), The University of Texas |
| 2018 | Elected Fellow, American Academy of Arts and Sciences |
| 2017 | Inducted Member, The Academy of Medicine, Engineering and Sciences of Texas, TAMEST |
| 2014 | President's Recognition of Faculty Excellence, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| 2013 | Elected Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science |
| 2006 | Pfizer Visiting Professor in Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| 2003 | Faculty Leadership Award, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute |
| 1999 | Distinguished Alumnus Medal, Westminster College, Salt Lake City, Utah |
| 1998 | Elected Member, European Molecular Biology Organization |
| 1998 | Meyenburg Prize for Cancer Research, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) |
| 1997 | Elected Fellow of the Royal Society (F.R.S.), The Royal Society |
| 1985 | National Research Service Award, National Cancer Institute, DHHS |
| 1977 | National Science Foundation Graduate Fellowship, National Science Foundation |
Professional Memberships
Grant & Contract Support
| Date: | 2020 - 2026 |
| Title: | Polymerase theta, genome instability, and cancer |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | Project Leader |
| ID: | P01-CA247773 |
| Date: | 2019 - 2025 |
| Title: | Cancer Center Support Grant, Cancer Genetics and Epigenetics (CGE) |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | Co-Leader |
| ID: | P30CA016672 |
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- Hayward, BE, Kim, GY, Miller, CJ, McCann, C, Lowery, MG, Wood, R, Usdin, K. Repeat expansion in a fragile X model is independent of double strand break repair mediated by Pol θ, RAD52, RAD54 or RAD54B. Scientific reports 15(1), 2025. e-Pub 2025. PMID: 39934227.
- Li Y, Dang NK, He W, Returan M, Carvajal-Maldonado D, Guerin AT, Xu H, Liu B, Wood RD. Pol theta-mediated end-joining uses microhomologies containing mismatches. Nat Commun 16(1):6085, 2025. e-Pub 2025. PMID: 40603872.
- Hayward BE, Kim GY, Miller CJ, McCann C, Lowery MG, Wood RD, Usdin K. Repeat expansion in a Fragile X model is independent of double strand break repair mediated by Pol theta, Rad52, Rad54l or Rad54b. bioRxiv, 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 39574643.
- Carvajal-Maldonado, D, Li, Y, Returan, M, Averill, AM, Doublié, S, Wood, R. Dynamic stem–loop extension by Pol θ and templated insertion during DNA repair. Journal of Biological Chemistry 300(7), 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 38876299.
- Fijen, C, Drogalis Beckham, L, Terino, D, Li, Y, Ramsden, DA, Wood, R, Doublié, S, Rothenberg, E. Sequential requirements for distinct Polθ domains during theta-mediated end joining. Molecular Cell 84(8):1460-1474.e6, 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 38640894.
- Stroik S, Carvajal-Garcia J, Gupta D, Edwards A, Luthman A, Wyatt DW, Dannenberg RL, Feng W, Kunkel TA, Gupta GP, Hedglin M, Wood R, Doublié S, Rothenberg E, Ramsden DA. Stepwise requirements for polymerases δ and θ in theta-mediated end joining. Nature 623(7988):836-841, 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 37968395.
- Llorens-Agost M, Ensminger M, Le HP, Gawai A, Liu J, Cruz-García A, Bhetawal S, Wood RD, Heyer WD, Löbrich M. Publisher Correction: POLθ-mediated end joining is restricted by RAD52 and BRCA2 until the onset of mitosis. Nat Cell Biol 24(1):124, 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 34707239.
- Ben Yamin B, Ahmed-Seghir S, Tomida J, Despras E, Pouvelle C, Yurchenko A, Goulas J, Corre R, Delacour Q, Droin N, Dessen P, Goidin D, Lange SS, Bhetawal S, Mitjavila-Garcia MT, Baldacci G, Nikolaev S, Cadoret JC, Wood RD, Kannouche PL. DNA polymerase zeta contributes to heterochromatin replication to prevent genome instability. EMBO J 40(21):e104543, 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 34533226.
- Llorens-Agost M, Ensminger M, Le HP, Gawai A, Liu J, Cruz-García A, Bhetawal S, Wood RD, Heyer WD, Löbrich M. POLθ-mediated end joining is restricted by RAD52 and BRCA2 until the onset of mitosis. Nat Cell Biol 23(10):1095-1104, 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 34616022.
- Zahn KE, Jensen RB, Wood RD, Doublié S. Retracted: Human DNA polymerase θ harbors DNA end-trimming activity critical for DNA repair. Mol Cell 81(7):1534-1547.e4, 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 33577776.
- Martin SK, Tomida J, Wood RD. Disruption of DNA polymerase ζ engages an innate immune response. Cell Rep 34(8):108775, 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 33626348.
- Wang R, Lenoir WF, Wang C, Su D, McLaughlin M, Hu Q, Shen X, Tian Y, Klages-Mundt N, Lynn E, Wood RD, Chen J, Hart T, Li L. DNA polymerase ι compensates for Fanconi anemia pathway deficiency by countering DNA replication stress. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 117(52):33436-33445, 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 33376220.
- Hwang T, Reh S, Dunbayev Y, Zhong Y, Takata Y, Shen J, McBride KM, Murnane JP, Bhak J, Lee S, Wood RD, Takata KI. Defining the mutation signatures of DNA polymerase θ in cancer genomes. NAR Cancer 2(3):zcaa017, 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 32885167.
- Carvajal-Garcia J, Cho JE, Carvajal-Garcia P, Feng W, Wood RD, Sekelsky J, Gupta GP, Roberts SA, Ramsden DA. Mechanistic basis for microhomology identification and genome scarring by polymerase theta. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 117(15):8476-8485, 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 32234782.
- Liu X, Jiang Y, Takata KI, Nowak B, Liu C, Wood RD, Hittelman WN, Plunkett W. CNDAC-induced DNA double strand breaks cause aberrant mitosis prior to cell death. Mol Cancer Ther 18(12):2283-2295, 2019. e-Pub 2019. PMID: 31501277.
- Feng W, Simpson DA, Carvajal-Garcia J, Price BA, Kumar RJ, Mose LE, Wood RD, Rashid N, Purvis JE, Parker JS, Ramsden DA, Gupta GP. Genetic determinants of cellular addiction to DNA polymerase theta. Nat Commun 10(1):4286, 2019. e-Pub 2019. PMID: 31537809.
- Tomida J, Takata KI, Bhetawal S, Person MD, Chao HP, Tang DG, Wood RD. FAM35A associates with REV7 and modulates DNA damage responses of normal and BRCA1-defective cells. EMBO J 37(12), 2018. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 29789392.
- Lange SS, Bhetawal S, Reh S, Powell KL, Kusewitt DF, Wood RD. DNA polymerase ζ deficiency causes impaired wound healing and stress-induced skin pigmentation. Life Sci Alliance 1(3):e201800048, 2018. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 30046772.
- Manandhar M, Lowery MG, Boulware KS, Lin KH, Lu Y, Wood RD. Transcriptional consequences of XPA disruption in human cell lines. DNA Repair (Amst) 57:76-90, 2017. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 28704716.
- Takata KI, Reh S, Yousefzadeh MJ, Zelazowski MJ, Bhetawal S, Trono D, Lowery MG, Sandoval M, Takata Y, Lu Y, Lin K, Shen J, Kusewitt DF, McBride KM, Cole F, Wood RD. Analysis of DNA polymerase ν function in meiotic recombination, immunoglobulin class-switching, and DNA damage tolerance. PLoS Genet 13(6):e1006818, 2017. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 28570559.
- Malaby AW, Martin SK, Wood RD, Doublié S. Expression and Structural Analyses of Human DNA Polymerase θ (POLQ). Methods Enzymol 592:103-121, 2017. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 28668117.
- Lin YC, Owen N, Minko IG, Lange SS, Li L, Stone MP, Wood RD, McCullough AK, Lloyd RS. DNA polymerase ζ limits chromosomal damage and promotes cell survival following aflatoxin exposure. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 113(48):13774-13779, 2016. e-Pub 2016. PMID: 27849610.
- Wyatt DW, Feng W, Conlin MP, Yousefzadeh MJ, Roberts SA, Mieczkowski P, Wood RD, Gupta GP, Ramsden DA. Essential Roles for Polymerase theta-Mediated End Joining in the Repair of Chromosome Breaks. Mol Cell 63(4):662-73, 2016. e-Pub 2016. PMID: 27453047.
- Schibler A, Koutelou E, Tomida J, Wilson-Pham M, Wang L, Lu Y, Cabrera AP, Chosed RJ, Li W, Li B, Shi X, Wood RD, Dent SY. Histone H3K4 methylation regulates deactivation of the spindle assembly checkpoint through direct binding of Mad2. Genes Dev 30(10):1187-97, 2016. e-Pub 2016. PMID: 27198228.
- Lange SS, Tomida J, Boulware KS, Bhetawal S, Wood RD. The Polymerase Activity of Mammalian DNA Pol ζ Is Specifically Required for Cell and Embryonic Viability. PLoS Genet 12(1):e1005759, 2016. e-Pub 2016. PMID: 26727495.
- Perez CJ, Mecklenburg L, Jaubert J, Martinez-Santamaria L, Iritani BM, Espejo A, Napoli E, Song G, del Río M, DiGiovanni J, Giulivi C, Bedford MT, Dent SY, Wood RD, Kusewitt DF, Guénet JL, Conti CJ, Benavides F. Increased Susceptibility to Skin Carcinogenesis Associated with a Spontaneous Mouse Mutation in the Palmitoyl Transferase Zdhhc13 gene. J Invest Dermatol 135(12):3133-43, 2015. e-Pub 2015. PMID: 26288350.
- Takata K, Tomida J, Reh S, Swanhart LM, Takata M, Hukriede NA, Wood RD. Conserved overlapping gene arrangement, restricted expression and biochemical activities of DNA polymerase ν; (POLN). J Biol Chem 290(40):24278-93, 2015. e-Pub 2015. PMID: 26269593.
- Zahn KE, Averill AM, Aller P, Wood RD, Doublié S. Human DNA polymerase θ grasps the primer terminus to mediate DNA repair. Nat Struct Mol Biol 22(4):304-11, 2015. e-Pub 2015. PMID: 25775267.
- Tomida J, Takata K, Lange SS, Schibler AC, Yousefzadeh MJ, Bhetawal S, Dent SY, Wood RD. REV7 is essential for DNA damage tolerance via two REV3L binding sites in mammalian DNA polymerase ζ. Nucleic Acids Res 43(2):1000-11, 2015. e-Pub 2015. PMID: 25567983.
Invited Articles
- Wood RD, Walker GC. Errol Friedberg: A life in writing. DNA Repair (Amst) 128:103516, 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 37301015.
- Carvajal-Maldonado D, Wood RD. Regulating Pol θ in Breast Cancer. Cancer Res 81(6):1441-1442, 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 33723002.
- Wood RD. Fifty years since DNA repair was linked to cancer. Nature 557(7707):648-649, 2018. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 29844546.
Review Articles
- Wood RD, Doublié S. Genome Protection by DNA Polymerase θ. Annu Rev Genet 56:207-228, 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 36028228.
- Vanson S, Li Y, Wood RD, Doublié S. Probing the structure and function of polymerase θ helicase-like domain. DNA Repair (Amst) 116:103358, 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 35753097.
- Carvajal-Maldonado D, Drogalis Beckham L, Wood RD, Doublié S. When DNA Polymerases Multitask: Functions Beyond Nucleotidyl Transfer. Front Mol Biosci 8:815845, 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 35071329.
- Martin SK, Wood RD. DNA polymerase ζ in DNA replication and repair. Nucleic Acids Res 47(16):8348-8361, 2019. e-Pub 2019. PMID: 31410467.
- Wood, R, Doublié, S. DNA polymerase θ (POLQ), double-strand break repair, and cancer. DNA Repair 44:22-32, 2016. e-Pub 2016. PMID: 27264557.
- Manandhar M, Boulware KS, Wood RD. The ERCC1 and ERCC4 (XPF) genes and gene products. Gene 569(2):153-61, 2015. e-Pub 2015. PMID: 26074087.
Editorials
- Wood RD. Ascent from the Maelstrom. Genetics & Epigenetics Newsletter, 2020.
Letters to the Editor
- Carvajal-Maldonado, D, Zahn, KE, Jensen, RB, Wood, R, Doublié, S. Human DNA polymerase θ does not harbor intrinsic nuclease activity. Molecular Cell 84: 1394-1395, 2024.
- Wood RD, Manandhar M, Lowery M, Boulware KS, Lin K, Lu Y. Response to "XPA is primarily cytoplasmic but is transported into the nucleus upon UV damage". DNA Repair 62: 30-31, 2018.
Patient Reviews
CV information above last modified August 27, 2025