Areas of Expertise:
- Primary research focus: Interaction of DNA and anti-cancer drugs
- Secondary research focus: Implications of caffeine metabolism genotype and phenotype
- Additional interests: DNA profiling and CODIS
We have ongoing projects in several different areas, including characterizing the mechanisms of anti-cancer drugs, investigating factors that mediate the effects of caffeine on performance, and developing forensic applications of DNA analysis.
The Millard research group is interested in the interactions of small molecules with DNA, focusing on the question of how some small molecules cause cancer whereas others act as anti-cancer drugs. We primarily use polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis to examine DNA sites targeted by interstrand cross-linking agents and to probe structural abnormalities induced by cross-linking. We are currently most focused on diepoxybutane, the metabolite of butadiene believed to be responsible for increased levels of cancer in those exposed to it industrially.
Her research is in the field of DNA-drug interactions, investigating how some small molecules cause cancer whereas others act as anti-cancer drugs.
