David Gau, PhD

Summary

My current research focuses on the role of the tumor microenvironment in regulation of kidney cancer. In particular, I am interested in exploring the therapeutic benefit of targeting Profilin-1, an actin-binding protein, in endothelial cells in the tumor microenvironment as a potential treatment for kidney cancer. Kidney cancer is a pathology characterized by excessive vascularization of the tumor microenvironment. My previous work has demonstrated that Profilin-1 plays a key role in regulating the angiogenic potential of endothelial cells. Using small molecule inhibitors I developed during my PhD against Profilin-1 and dendritic cell vaccine against Profilin-1, I am investigating if Profilin-1 can serve as a therapeutic target for vascular normalization in kidney cancer and thus improve current line therapy response.