Peter Bhatt

Peter Bhatt has characterized the ATR-Chk1 signaling axis as a critical mediator of the intra-S-phase replication checkpoint and its relevance to cancer therapy sensitization. His research showed that Chk1 inhibition abrogates S-phase checkpoint activation induced by replication stressors including gemcitabine and hydroxyurea, synergistically killing cancer cells with high endogenous replication stress. He identified mechanisms by which Chk1 stabilizes stalled replication forks and coordinates origin firing to prevent replication catastrophe, and how cancer cells with p53 mutations depend on Chk1 for survival under replication stress. His work on Chk1 inhibitors in combination with nucleoside analogs has informed numerous clinical trials in hematologic and solid malignancies.