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Research Interests:a) We aim to understand the role of specific microRNAs in the hypoxia response and in the progression of breast cancer. The current focus is on miR-210. We have demonstrated (and other groups subsequently confirmed) that miR-210 is a direct target of Hypoxia Inducible Factors (HIFs), master regulators of the response to low oxygen, with critical roles in tumor formation. Importantly, miR-210 was found by multiple studies to be overexpressed in breast cancer, and its upregulation was recently associated with adverse prognosis and metastatic potential in breast cancer. We aim to mechanistically dissect the role of miR-210 in cell survival under stress, to identify critical miR-210 gene targets and develop animal models of breast cancer with altered level of miR-210.b) We will continue to investigate the adaptive process to chronic deep hypoxia, using our recently developed model of extended oxygen deprivation (Borger et al, 2008). The focus is on a specific class of oxygen dependent jumonji domain-containing demethylases, and their potential roles in hypoxic cell death, in the context of breast cancer cells. c) We seek to expand on our discovery of HIF-prolyl hydroxylase oxygen sensors (Ivan et al, Science, 2001) and search for additional targets for prolyl hydroxylation.
Education and Training:Postdoctoral Fellowship: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical SchoolPh.D.: Cardiff University M.D.: "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania
Recent Publications:PubMed listings |
