Sarah Golding
Assistant Professor, Director of Undergraduate Research
Research Interests
Radiation induced pro-survival signaling and the DNA damage response
Background
Sarah Golding received her Ph.D. from the University of the West of England, Bristol, United Kingdom in 2006. She did her post-doctoral training in the laboratory of Kristoffer Valerie, Ph.D., in the Department of Radiation Oncology, Massey Cancer Center, at VCU. Sarah is a molecular biologist by training. Her doctoral and post-doctoral work focused on the activation of pro-survival signaling by low clinically relevant doses of radiation therapy. Sarah’s has investigated the use of ATM kinase inhibitors to modulate AKT and MAPK pro-survival signaling and DNA repair to modulate radiosensitivity in human malignant glioma. The ultimate goal being to use small molecule cell signaling inhibitors to increase a patient’s sensitivity to radiation therapy, thus improving brain cancer treatment and minimizing detrimental side effects. Sarah now acts as VCU Department of Biology’s Undergraduate Research Coordinator, helping to promote and facilitate undergraduate research at VCU. She also manages a number of research training programs for minority students offered by the Center on Health Disparities.