Karen Cooper
Assistant Professor
Pharmacy
University of New Mexico
Mexico
Biography
Cooper holds a BS in biology from South Dakota State University (1986) and a MS in biology from the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology (2001). She received her PhD in biomedical sciences in 2006 from the University of New Mexico She completed her dissertation research in the lab of College of Pharmacy Professor Laurie Hudson and continued as a contributing lab member during her post-doctoral training.
Research Interest
Cooper specializes in toxicity of metals, combinations of metals and in combination with DNA damaging agents in a variety of cells types (keratinocytes, melanocytes and kidney cells) and animal models. Her specific interests are in mechanisms of the inhibition of DNA damage repair by these environmental toxicants. Cooper is currently investigating the disruption of zinc finger-containing DNA repair enzymes by arsenic and uranium, and the potential intervention by dietary zinc.
