DNA repair is fundamental to life. Failing to launch DNA repair in the right place at the right time compromises genome stability, which in turn can lead to a wide range of devastating human diseases, including cancers and developmental disorders. Emerging evidence also implicate DNA repair as a key process that underlies learning and memory, highlighting the diverse roles of DNA metabolism in brain and cognitive sciences.

As such, research in DNA break metabolism advances our understanding of the molecular bases of genome instability-associated human syndromes. Indeed, not only does DNA repair research aid in disease risk assessment, it also provides invaluable insight in rational drug design and discovery, as exemplified by the recent development of PARP inhibitors as promising therapeutics for the treatment of BRCA-related breast and ovarian cancers.