Investigators

Summary

My research as a neurosurgeon-scientist has focused on the translation of new therapies and intraoperative visualization of glioblastoma (GBM). I direct the Brain Tumor Nanotechnology Laboratory in the Hillman Cancer Center studying the use of magnetic iron-oxide nanoparticles (MIONPs) for the targeted imaging and magnetic hyperthermia therapy (MHT) of GBM after convection-enhanced delivery (CED). This collaborative and translational NIH- funded research involves Johns Hopkins University and Penn State University developing a new treatment for GBM. My research is also…

Summary

My research interests focus on preclinical and clinical development of novel agents from natural products for prevention of prostate and breast cancer in humans and understanding their molecular mechanism of action against cancer using in vitro and in vivo test systems. Natural products include dietary sources (such as garlic, broccoli, watercress, etc.) and traditional Oriental and Indian medicinal plants. Cancer chemoprevention can be defined as the use of natural or synthetic agents to delay, reverse or suppress cancer progression. I am also interested in identifying biomarkers to assess…

Summary

My research interests focus on the similarities and differences in chromatin structure among different cell types and how chromatin remodeling factors that modulate these differences regulate cell fate. The longterm goals of my laboratory are to comprehensively understand the functions, targets, regulation, and mechanisms of action of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) and chromatin regulatory factors with critical functions in the embryonic stem (ES) cell gene regulatory network, through development, and in disease states. Active research areas in my laboratory include: (1)…

Summary

Activation of the PI3K pathway, through either oncogenic mutations or loss of tumor suppressors, is arguably the most prevalent transforming event in cancer. Much effort has focused on inhibitors of these pathways, but success to date has been tempered by on-target adverse effects driven by normal physiology that also relies on intact PI3K signaling. My research focuses on the regulatory and homeostatic mechanisms that control PI3K signaling at the level of its central lipid messengers. We aim to uncover how these lipid signals selectively couple to defined signaling…

Summary

The laboratory of Timothy Hand, PhD, is interested in the immune cells of the intestine and how they respond to the first interactions with colonizing microorganisms. How the immune system deals with newly colonizing bacteria is important, since too little immune response can lead to infection but too much can contribute to damaging inflammation. The intestine is home to the largest and densest group of microorganisms in the body and the intestinal microbiome is required for many host processes, most notably the digestion of complex carbohydrates. Therefore, maintaining a healthy relationship…

Summary

Dr. Hempel's research aims to better understand molecular mechanisms that regulate metastasis and tumor progression, with the ultimate goal of identifying novel targets for therapy of advanced-stage disease. Her research efforts have specifically focused on mechanisms by which tumor cells adapt to stress and her past research on the mitochondrial superoxide dismutase SOD2 has significantly contributed to the understanding that antioxidant enzymes have dichotomous roles during tumor progression. Dr. Hempel’s current research efforts focus on ovarian cancer, which remains the…

Summary

The Hinterleitner Lab studies mucosal immune responses to gut microbes. Current projects are centered around how gut protists shape immune responses in the context of celiac disease, IBD, and colon cancer.

Summary

My cancer research interests focus on the development of tools designed to make information more useful for translational researchers. Since 2014, I have been a co-investigator and then MPI (with Guergana Savova of Boston Children’s Hospital and Jeremy Warner of Vanderbilt University) on an NCIfunded project “Cancer Deep Phenotyping from Electronic Medical Records”(U24 CA248010-01A1). Known as “DeepPhe”, this project is aimed at extracting longitudinal patient histories from clinical notes via Natural Language Processing and developing visual analytics tools…

Summary

Dr. Homa's research is focused on understanding the molecular basis of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) capsid assembly and viral genome packaging into the viral capsid. DNA encapsidation and cleavage involves the coordinated interaction of several HSV proteins that are essential for production of infectious virions. How these multi-protein assemblies associate and interact to accomplish this complex task touches on fundamental questions in biology. The HSV-1 genome is translocated into the icosahedral procapsid through a donut-shaped 'portal' that is present at one of the…

Summary

I am a physician-scientist whose research efforts have focused specifically on codon usage, tRNA biology, and amino acid metabolism in colorectal and gastric cancers. Using a combination of computational modeling and wet-lab experiments, I found that amino acid availability directly influences tRNA availability and gene expression in a codon-dependent manner, and also potentially affects the evolution of the cancer genome. I plan to better dissect the contribution of the tumor microenvironment towards nutritional stress of cancer cells as well as determine how tRNA synthetases contribute…

Summary

Dr. Hu's lab focuses on the identification and validation of crucial molecular changes that confer high-risk for tumor progression in mutant BRAF-induced serrated intestinal tumorigenesis. Her lab works to identify novel factors essential for serrated CRC development that can serve as pharmacological targets for the prevention of serrated CRC at an early and curable stage. Dr. Hu's lab also works to identify and validate novel functionally relevant and druggable targets for…

Summary

In my role as leader in AI for Cancer Research, I work closely with Hillman PIs and Hillman leadership to develop the AI infrastructure and capability to advance clinical operation, clinical research, and basic cancer research. I envision building a robust AI capability at Hillman that can meet the AI needs for cutting-edge cancer research and be adapted to address new challenges. My current cancer-related research includes: 1. Mechanism of infection and oncogenesis by KSHV Goals: Using a combination of bioinformatics/machine learning, high throughput profiling (scRNA-seq, in-situ-seq,…