Tara Beattie

Professor

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Oncology

BSc, PhD


Contact information

Location

Office : HRIC2B28

Preferred method of communication

ADMIN ASSISTANT

Diana Law

Email: medgse@ucalgary.ca

Office: 403-220-5712


Research and teaching

Area of Focus

  • Functional Interactions within the human telomerase complex.
  • Role of DNA repair proteins in telomere

Summary of Research

My lab focuses on telomere integrity and the enzyme telomerase as a critical factor in the progression of age-related diseases. Telomeres are specialized structures that form the protective ends of linear chromosomes. Telomeres confer stability of our DNA and therefore, telomere structure needs to be maintained in cells, since changes in DNA integrity can lead to multiple disease states. Activation of the enzyme telomerase, which maintains telomere length in dividing cells, is essential for the unregulated growth of many cancer cells. However, in addition there are at least four three disease states that arise from mutations in telomerase, stressing the importance of the delicate balance that must be preserved between telomerase activation and telomerase inhibition – either too much, or too little of the enzyme can be bad for the cell.


Biography

Dr. Tara Beattie is a Professor in the Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Oncology. She obtained her PhD from the University of Toronto in 1997 and completed her post-doctoral training with Dr. Lea Harrington and the Ontario Cancer Institute from 1997-2000. In 2001, she became an independent investigator at the University of Calgary in the Cumming School of Medicine.


Publications

PubMed