Professor Don Jones

My research interests be summarised as: "Mechanisms, Measurement and Consequences of Radiation - and Drug-Induced Damage to DNA".

Radiotherapy and chemotherapy, used either singly or in combination, are two of the principal modalities used for the current treatment of cancer. For radiation and many chemotherapeutic drugs, genomic DNA is the primary cellular target for the biological effects of these agents; indeed it is the DNA damage induced which is thought to be responsible for killing the of the cancer cells by these agents.

To better understand, judge and improve treatment efficacy, the purpose of my research is to explore mechanisms to enhance these damaging interactions and to develop methods and biomarkers for the accurate measurement of DNA damage both in vitro and in vivo. Emphasis is placed on studying clinically relevant doses (avoiding the uncertainty of extrapolation from higher doses) and on translational research themes with anticipated patient benefit.

Recently, my group has been investigating the chemical mechanisms that potentially underpin the Ultra High Dose Rate ‘FLASH effect’; notably, the mechanisms that may contribute to the normal tissue sparing of FLASH exposures, whilst not seemingly affecting tumour control.