Supervisor:
Program of Study:
PhD, Pathology
Project Title:
Investigating the molecular mechanisms of oncogenic long non-coding RNAs associated with breast cancer stem cells
Research Summary:
One in 33 Canadian women is estimated to die from breast cancer. The prognosis for triple
negative breast cancer is the worst among breast cancer subtypes, due its high risk of
relapse and its resistance to current treatment options. This highlights a crucial need to find novel
therapies for triple negative breast cancer. Part of this cancer’s resistance to therapies is mediated by an extremely aggressive cell type, termed cancer stem cells. Therapies targeting cancer stem cells within triple negative breast cancer tumours therefore represent enticing strategies for the treatment of patients with this breast cancer subtype.
Our lab is searching for novel anti-cancer stem cell therapies within a class of molecules (long non-coding RNAs) that has traditionally been underappreciated by the scientific community. The functional importance of this group of molecules have been dismissed due to their unusual and complex behaviours; however, recent advances in scientific technologies have permitted us to begin to understand the significance of these molecules in cancer. We believe that long non-coding RNAs represent an untapped resource of targets for improved cancer therapies. We are harnessing the power of computing to screen all long non-coding RNAs in cancer (of which there are over 12,000) to prioritize which molecules have the strongest potential to act as novel anti-cancer stem cell therapies. The goal of my project is to identity new drug targets and treatment options to improve outcomes for breast cancer patients.
Scholarships and/or Awards:
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- Cancer Research Training Program (CRTP) Traineeship Award 2020 and 2021
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- Genomics in Medicine Graduate Studentship (2020)
Career Aspirations:
My career objectives are to work with a team of dedicated researchers to innovate research methods and technologies and push the field of cancer research forward. I hope to leverage my background in biology and computer science to contribute to this field. After completing my Master’s degree, I hope to go to medical school to become a clinician-scientist. I aspire to bridge the gap between clinical practice and medical knowledge. I hope to characterize cancer targets that will lend themselves to specific treatments and to further the field of precision medicine by facilitating the transition from research to clinical practice through genomic profiling.
Location:
Dalhousie University
Publications:
Venkatesh, J.; Wasson, M.DCancer Lett (2021)
PMID: 33848519
Cruickshank, B.M.; Wasson, M.DCancers (Basel) 2021
PMID: 34072264
Brown, J.M.; Wasson, M.DCancers (Basel) 2021
PMID: 33467411
Brown, J.M.; Wasson, M.DCells 2020, 9, 763.
PMID: 32244924