multi-omics at the intersection of radiation and immune therapy
Our scientific interests
Triple-negative breast cancer - metaplastic breast cancer - EMT - VRK kinases - cfDNA to assess treatment response - TCR sequencing - TCR and BCR repertoire cloning - gamma-delta T-cells - cGAS-STING signaling - neo-adjuvant radio-immune therapy trials - immune-peptidomics
cGAS-STING agonism through VRK1 inhibition
Previous work highlighted the role of VRK1 in membrane reformation following mitosis. VRK1 loss or inhibition leads to chromosome instability, chromosome bridging, and micronuclei. Our lab seeks to investigate innate immune activation following VRK1 inhibition in a variety of cancer contexts.
Interrogating tumor-immune interactions in radio-immunetherapy
We have developed a suite of tools to interrogate tumor-immune interactions in response to radiation and immune therapy. Through high-throughput functional genomic screening, T-cell receptor sequencing, and cellular contact tracing, we aim to map the network of tumor-immune cell interactions that affect the efficacy of cancer therapy.
treatment monitoring with cell-free DNA
Our research focuses on the innovative use of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) for monitoring cancer treatment efficacy. Recent work by others have shown that most cfDNA is not from tumor but from lymphocytes. cfDNA offers a non-invasive method to not only track tumor dynamics but immune response in real-time. By analyzing cfDNA, we aim to detect early signs of treatment response or resistance, providing critical insights into the effectiveness of cancer therapies.
“Play is the highest form of research”
Albert Einstein