Medical University of South Carolina
About Jimenez Sainz Lab
The Jimenez Sainz Lab is a research laboratory that specializes in the study of DNA repair proteins and the alterations of their variants at Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston. The laboratory is part of the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department and it is located in the Hollings Cancer Center Building.
This website provides an insight into the research work being performed in the Jimenez Sainz Lab. Our team of researchers is dedicated to understanding how DNA repair proteins work and how their genetic variants contribute to the development of cancer. We are committed to advancing our knowledge and sharing our findings with the scientific community.
Lab Mission
The goal of our laboratory is to work togettehr to solvel complex problems rigorously and creativily in the DNA repais and cancer biology fields.
The Ultimate goal is to develop better diagnostic tools to prevetn cancer and treat patients to minimize relapses.
We are creating a collaborative and inclusive environment to foster learning new skills, exporing novel questions and the joy in for science.
Meet the Team
Our team of researchers in the Jimenez Sainz Lab is led by Dr. Judit Jimenez Sainz, who is the Principal Investigator. Dr. Jimenez Sainz has extensive experience in the field of DNA repair and has been published in numerous scientific journals. Contact us to learn more about our work and how you can collaborate with us.
Dr. Judit Jimenez Sainz
Principal Investigator- Assistant Professor
Research Specialist I
Research Specialist I
Dr. Judit Jimenez Sainz is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Dr. Jimenez Sainz received a BSc and Master (Hons) in Biology and Biochemistry from the University of Valencia in 2007 and was award summa cum laude international merit Ph.D. in Biotechnology in 2012 from the University of Valencia and University College London. She did her postdoctoral training at Yale School of Medicine, and she became research ladder faculty in 2018 in the Department of Therapeutic Radiology. In 2022, Dr. Jimenez Sainz was awarded a Lion Heart Cancer Fund award and the CRIS Cancer fellowship as a visiting researcher in Dr. Juan Mendez’ laboratory at the Spanish National Cancer Research Center (CNIO). Dr. Jimenez Sainz has more than 10 years of experience in projects carried out with the molecular biology of cancer and is the author of seminal studies in high-impact journals such as eLife, Nature, Molecular Cell, and Cell Reports. She has mentored more than 20 students and has directed several research projects. During her time at Yale, she was a Branford College Fellow, an elected representative of Associate Research Scientists in the Faculty Advisory Council of the Yale Medical School Dean’s Office, and a former coordinator of Community and Networking for the Yale Postdoctoral Association. Dr. Jimenez Sainz founded the Research in Progress Seminars to promote collaboration and sharing of scientific process and discoveries in her department. She is a former president of the Spanish Association of Scientists in USA (ECUSA, 2021-2023), a former president of the Spanish Network of Scientists Abroad (RAICEX, 2021) and co-chair of the Science Policy and Talent Attraction commission in RAICEX.
Dr. Jimenez Sainz is an active member of the Biochemistry Society, American Association of Cancer Research (AACR), New York Academy of Sciences Genome Integrity Discussion Group, MIT DNA Repair and Mutagenesis Group, Sociedad Española de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular (SEBBM), guest editor of Frontier in Genetics (2020-2022) and serves as an ad hoc reviewer for numerous journals within the DNA repair and Cancer Biology fields.
Rotation PhD Student (Feb-April 2024)
FORMER MEMBERS
Tiffany Penaloza
Cole Niedmann
Cole Niedmann is an incoming Research Specialist I in the Jimenez Sainz Lab. He is originally from Southington, Connecticut where he has lived most of his life. He graduated from the University of Richmond with a B.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology while also receiving a minor in Entrepreneurship. His undergraduate research consisted of studying the role of the Ded1 protein in yeast by targeting the TOR pathway, a known cancer pathway. In addition to pursuing a science degree, Cole had an incredible opportunity to intern at a telehealth autism services company in Richmond, Virginia. Working alongside the CEO of the company, he learned more about the healthcare industry overall and what it takes to build a company from scratch. Outside of his studies and research, Cole worked as a supervisor at the University Recreation Center, where he enjoyed a passion for fitness, interacting with the University community, and leading his fellow peers. For his dedication to this position, he was nominated for the University Student Employee of the Year Award.
Maxim Halma
Maxim Halma is a research specialist in the Jimenez Sainz lab. He is originally from Rotterdam, The Netherlands and has lived in the United States since 2018. He graduated from the College of Charleston with a bachelor’s degree in biology with a minor in marketing. During his undergraduate time, he researched genomic up/down regulation in sea urchins that were treated with NiCl₂ and did sequencing research on various microbial lifeforms. Outside of school, Maxim did charity work for the Low Country Foodbank where he helped make over 60,000 meals for underprivileged children who rely on subsidized meals. He also was an employee of a local, veteran owned food vendor where he helped to serve thousands of people and was the manager of a team of salespeople where he excelled in making the business run as smooth as possible by creating an efficient work environment where everyone can succeed.
Mirna Mina-Abouda
Mirna Mina-Abouda was born in Egypt and moved to the U.S. at the age of 9. She completed her Bachelor of Science (in 2019) at Lipscomb University, where she studied the role of CBD on axon guidance in Zebrafish embryos. After graduating, she worked as a research assistant at Vanderbilt University medical Center where she investigated the role of PORCN on eye development in mice. In 2021, she earned her Master of Science from Lipscomb University in Biomedical science. Her thesis project focused on investigating the role of membrane metalloendopeptidase on the PI3K Pathway in triple negative breast cancer. She is currently a 1st year PhD student at Medical University of South Carolina rotating in our lab. Her dream Project would involve investigating specific mechanisms in cancer biology. Her career goals involve training students to become detailed young scientists with critical thinking capabilities. In her free time, she enjoys travelling with her husband and two dogs.
Dr. Judit Jimenez Sainz is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Dr. Jimenez Sainz received a BSc and Master (Hons) in Biology and Biochemistry from the University of Valencia in 2007 and was award summa cum laude international merit Ph.D. in Biotechnology in 2012 from the University of Valencia and University College London. She did her postdoctoral training at Yale School of Medicine, and she became research ladder faculty in 2018 in the Department of Therapeutic Radiology. In 2022, Dr. Jimenez Sainz was awarded a Lion Heart Cancer Fund award and the CRIS Cancer fellowship as a visiting researcher in Dr. Juan Mendez’ laboratory at the Spanish National Cancer Research Center (CNIO). Dr. Jimenez Sainz has more than 10 years of experience in projects carried out with the molecular biology of cancer and is the author of seminal studies in high-impact journals such as eLife, Nature, Molecular Cell, and Cell Reports. She has mentored more than 20 students and has directed several research projects. During her time at Yale, she was a Branford College Fellow, an elected representative of Associate Research Scientists in the Faculty Advisory Council of the Yale Medical School Dean’s Office, and a former coordinator of Community and Networking for the Yale Postdoctoral Association. Dr. Jimenez Sainz founded the Research in Progress Seminars to promote collaboration and sharing of scientific process and discoveries in her department. She is a former president of the Spanish Association of Scientists in USA (ECUSA, 2021-2023), a former president of the Spanish Network of Scientists Abroad (RAICEX, 2021) and co-chair of the Science Policy and Talent Attraction commission in RAICEX.
Dr. Jimenez Sainz is an active member of the Biochemistry Society, American Association of Cancer Research (AACR), New York Academy of Sciences Genome Integrity Discussion Group, MIT DNA Repair and Mutagenesis Group, Sociedad Española de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular (SEBBM), guest editor of Frontier in Genetics (2020-2022) and serves as an ad hoc reviewer for numerous journals within the DNA repair and Cancer Biology fields.
Rotation PhD Student
(Nov 2023-Feb 2024)
Tiffany Penaloza received her B.S. in Biochemistry from College of Charleston in 2020 and is currently a Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences student at the Medical University of South Carolina. During her undergraduate and post-graduate training, Tiffany became a collaborator in multiple laboratories where she studied a diverse range of topics including glutamatergic neurotransmission mediation of motivated behavior and substance use disorders and tumor progression through cancer cells and tumor infiltrated immune cells. Her goal as a Ph.D. student is to make significant contributions to the growing body of cancer research and to become a leader in her field. Outside of the lab, Tiffany enjoys spending time with loved ones, going to live jazz and music shows, and fossil hunting.