Jackson Laboratory

Ewelina Bolcun-filas, Ph.D.

The Bolcun-Filas Lab

Principal Investigator: Ewelina Bolcun-Filas, Ph.D.

The Jackson Laboratory
Bar Harbor, ME

Contact me at: 207-288-6985

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Researching the mechanisms of DNA damage detection and repair and their implications for cancer patients.

our research focus

Germ cells are the only cell type that must endure extensive DNA damage in the form of programmed meiotic double-strand breaks (DSBs) during their normal development. Paradoxically, the absence of DSBs during meiosis as well as persisting unrepaired breaks are detrimental and typically result in meiotic arrest and infertility. Our research aims to understand the molecular mechanisms controlling the development of healthy gametes and how misregulation of these mechanisms can lead to reproductive disorders. In particular, we are interested in meiotic "quality checkpoints" operating in germ cells, which ensure that the correct and intact genetic information is transmitted to the next generation.

The same checkpoint that monitors DSB repair during meiosis is responsible for high sensitivity of oocytes to cancer treatment. Chemo and radiation therapies can cause oocyte death and lead to premature ovarian failure and infertility. Disabling the key checkpoint kinase CHK2 preserved fertility in mice exposed to ionizing radiation, thus opening a new avenue for oncofertility research. Our goal is to further dissect the DNA damage response pathway in oocytes, helping identify additional targets for fertility preservation therapies in cancer patients.

Press ReleaseSeptember 21, 2018
New way to target advanced breast cancers
New research shows that a cytokine signature found in certain kinds of breast cancer cells can not only serve as a diagnostic tool for HER2-negative cancers but also offer an effective treatment target.
Search MagazineSeptember 11, 2018
Non-coding DNA is not junk after all
Assistant Professor Christine Beck, Ph.D., is uncovering how recurring sequences in our genomes might shed light on genome stability, as well as diseases like cancer.
Search MagazineAugust 14, 2018
Understanding our inheritance
To find out more about the complexities of inheritance, JAX spoke with author and New York Times columnist Carl Zimmer, who frequently writes about genetics and evolution.
Press ReleaseAugust 01, 2018
$2M NIH Grant to Study Genetic Mechanisms of Inherited Heart Muscle Disorders
Travis Hinson, M.D., has received more than $2 million from the National Institutes of Health National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute to study the mechanisms responsible for a serious and often fatal heart condition.
- Cardiovascular
- Genetics and Genomics

Research HighlightSeptember 11, 2018
Exploring zinc finger proteins
The National Institute of General Medical Sciences has awarded Petko Petkov a four-year grant totaling $1,385,337 to exploit the new methods he has developed to profile and investigate zinc finger proteins and their binding sites.
Press ReleaseSeptember 05, 2018
A better combination therapy for leukemias
A new approach to treating some leukemias could deliver a one-two punch to the cancer cells without harming normal tissue.
Press ReleaseAugust 01, 2018
A RACIPE for success
New five-year, $2.2M outstanding investigator grant to Mingyang Lu will support systems biology algorithm approach.
Research HighlightJuly 30, 2018
Immune system 2.0: Can we re-engineer the human immune response?
JAX researchers have demonstrated the ability to target and disrupt specific genes and/or alter their expression levels, which has important implications for both immunology research and clinical treatments.

Lab Staff

Chihiro Emori, Ph.D.

Postdoctoral Associate
Ewelina Bolcun-Filas, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor

Researching meiosis, the mechanisms of DNA damage detection and repair during normal development of gametes, and implications for fertility of cancer patients after radiation and chemotherapy.
Maxine Friend

Research Administrative Assistant

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Open Positions

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Selected Publications

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