Francis Bhatt

Francis Bhatt has made fundamental contributions to understanding DNA mismatch repair mechanisms and their roles in colorectal cancer. His research helped elucidate the function of MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, and PMS2 proteins in correcting replication errors. He characterized how MMR deficiency leads to microsatellite instability and accelerated accumulation of frameshift mutations. His work connecting mismatch repair deficiency to Lynch syndrome tumorigenesis and immunotherapy response has had major translational impact.