Stephen C. West

Stephen West

Stephen C. West is a prominent British biochemist known for his significant contributions to the field of DNA repair. He is a senior group leader at the Francis Crick Institute in London, where his research focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms of homologous recombination and the repair of DNA double-strand breaks.

Early Life and Education

Stephen C. West was born in the United Kingdom. He completed his undergraduate studies in biochemistry at the University of Liverpool. He then pursued his doctoral studies at the University of Newcastle, where he earned his Ph.D. in biochemistry.

Career

After completing his Ph.D., West conducted postdoctoral research at the University of California, Berkeley, where he worked with John W. Drake on the mechanisms of DNA repair. Upon returning to the UK, he joined the Imperial Cancer Research Fund (now part of Cancer Research UK) and later became a senior group leader at the Francis Crick Institute.

Research Contributions

Stephen C. West's research has been instrumental in elucidating the processes involved in homologous recombination, a critical pathway for the repair of DNA double-strand breaks. His work has provided insights into the roles of various proteins, such as RAD51, BRCA2, and BLM, in the repair process. West's laboratory has also contributed to understanding the molecular basis of genetic diseases associated with defects in DNA repair mechanisms.

Awards and Honors

Throughout his career, Stephen C. West has received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to the field of biochemistry and DNA repair. Some of these include:

• The Royal Society's Croonian Medal and Lecture
• The Louis-Jeantet Prize for Medicine
• Election to the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO)

Personal Life

Stephen C. West is married and has two children. He is an avid supporter of science education and frequently participates in outreach activities to promote public understanding of science.

See Also

• DNA repair
• Homologous recombination
• Francis Crick Institute
• RAD51
• BRCA2
• BLM

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