Labs
Learn more about our research laboratories.
Elizabeth Eklund LabThe Eklund lab investigates myeloid leukemia and approaches to chemotherapy resistant disease.
The Eklund lab investigates myeloid leukemia and approaches to chemotherapy resistant disease.
Dr. Eklund’s laboratory studies are focused on understanding the molecular events that lead to development of myeloid leukemias (acute myeloid leukemia and chronic myeloid leukemia) and to the evolution of drug resistance in these diseases. The goal is to identify potential molecular therapeutic targets that would delay or prevent drug resistance and relapse in AML and CML. In related projects, the laboratory is investigating Fanconi Anemia, a genetic disease with defective DNA repair. Patients with Fanconi Anemia frequently develop leukemia and provide a model for understanding the role of DNA repair in leukemogenesis.
Publications
View lab publications via PubMed.
For more information, visit the faculty profile page of Elizabeth Eklund, MD.
Contact Us
Contact Dr. Eklund at 312-503-3208 or the Eklund Lab at 312-503-3208.
Lab Staff
Ling Bei, MD
Research Associate
312-503-3206
Elizabeth Hjort
Graduate Student
312-503-4642
Liping Hu, PhD
Post Doctoral Fellow
312-503-4642
Weigi Huang, MD
Research Assistant Professor
312-503-3206
Chirag Shah, PhD
Research Associate
312-503-4642
Hao Wang, PhD
Research Assistant Professor
312-503-3204
Hau Kwaan LabThe Kwaan lab is examining the origin of microparticles which are tiny cell fragments shed by body cells. Specific work done in my lab deals with the role of these microparticles in blood clotting and bleeding. Knowing the origin of these microparticles will help in future treatment of bleeding and clotting disorders.
The Kwaan lab is examining the origin of microparticles which are tiny cell fragments shed by body cells. Specific work done in my lab deals with the role of these microparticles in blood clotting and bleeding. Knowing the origin of these microparticles will help in future treatment of bleeding and clotting disorders.
We have blood samples from patients diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia and myeloproliferative neoplasms. Using different methodologies I am examining the cellular origins of the microparticles present in the plasma. We are also interested in the thrombotic potential of these microparticles. We already found that tissue factor are carried by these microparticles. The microparticles also carry members of the plasmin – plasminogen system. These microparticles are increased in these two prothrombotic disorders. In addition we also study the amount of thrombin generated by these microparticles. These were found to be abnormally high during active phase of acute promyelocytic leukemia with return to normal after treatment.
Presently I am also working with a fellow looking at if there is a correlation in the number of reticulated platelets present in patients diagnosed with conditions associated with high platelet turnorver, including essential thrombocytopenia, disseminated intravascular coagulation, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.
Publications
View lab publications via PubMed.
For more information, visit the faculty profile page of Hau Kwaan, MD/PhD.
Contact Us
Contact Dr. Kwaan at 312-695-6180 or the Kwaan Lab at 312-503-1356.
Lab Staff
Ivy Weiss
Research Technician
312-503-1356
Hidayatullah G. Munshi LabThe Munshi lab is interested in the role of fibro-inflammatory stromal reaction in pancreatic cancer progression.
The Munshi lab is interested in the role of fibro-inflammatory stromal reaction in pancreatic cancer progression.
The Munshi Lab is focused on understanding the role of the key collagenase MT1-MMP (MMP-14) and members of the Snail family transcription factors in pancreatic cancer progression using transgenic mouse models. We are also interested in understanding how the pronounced fibrotic reaction induces epigenetic changes to contribute to chemotherapy resistance. We have shown that the collagen microenvironment induces histone acetylation and that targeting 'readers' of histone acetylation marks using BET inhibitors can limit growth of pancreatic cancer cells. We plan to evaluate the efficacy of BET inhibitors in our mouse models with the eventual goal of testing this class of inhibitors in patients with pancreatic cancer.
Publications
View lab publications via PubMed.
For more information, visit the faculty profile page of Hidayatullah G Munshi, MD.
Contact Us
Contact Dr. Munshi at 312-695-6180 or the Munshi Lab at 312-503-0312.
Lab Staff
Christina Chow
Post Doctoral Fellow
312-503-0312
Holly Hattaway
Research Technician
312-503-0312
Krishan Kumar
Senior Research Associate
312-503-0312
Leonidas Platanias LabDr. Platanias’ research laboratory focuses on understanding the signaling pathways in different types of cancers in order to develop novel therapies to specifically kill cancer cells.
Dr. Platanias’ research laboratory focuses on understanding the signaling pathways in different types of cancers in order to develop novel therapies to specifically kill cancer cells.
Research Description
Cell signaling is part of an intricate system of events activated by various stimuli that coordinate cell responses. Our laboratory is interested in unveiling pathways involved in cancer development in order to target them and control cancer progression. For over two decades, Dr. Platanias’ laboratory has identified several cellular cascades activated by IFN, ATRA and arsenic. Our research on Type I IFN found an essential role for SKAR protein in the regulation of mRNA translation of IFN-sensitive genes and induction of IFN-α biological responses. We also provided evidence for unique function of mTORC2 complex in inducing Type I IFN response. Our studies on arsenic signaling revealed a direct binding of this compound to a kinase called AMPK as a mechanism underlying its anti-leukemic activity. Other work included the activation of biological responses by BCR-ABL oncoprotein through the mTOR pathway. Dr. Platanias’ laboratory is also involved in testing new compounds in combination with approved therapies in order to identify synergy and improve the risk/benefit ratios of current therapeutic regimens for patients.
For more information, visit the faculty profile page of Leonidas Platanias, MD, PhD.
Publications
View lab publications via PubMed.
Contact
Contact Dr. Platanias at 312-908-5250 or the Platanias Lab at 312-503-4500.
Research Assistant Professors: Diana Saleiro, Elspeth Beauchamp, PhD, Frank Eckerdt, Mariafausta Fischietti
Postdoctoral Fellows: Candice Mazewski, Ricardo Perez
Graduate Students: Dominik Nahotko, Jamie Guillen
PSTP MD Fellows: Sarah Fenton, Sara Small
Lab Manager/Senior Researcher: Aneta Baran
Marcus Peter LabThe lab of Dr. Marcus Peter studies various forms of cell death including apoptosis, which is a fundamental process to regulate homeostasis of all tissues and to eliminate unwanted cells specifically in the immune system.
The lab of Dr. Marcus Peter studies various forms of cell death including apoptosis, which is a fundamental process to regulate homeostasis of all tissues and to eliminate unwanted cells specifically in the immune system.
Another interest lies in the study of RNA interference and based on toxic RNAs to development a novel form of cancer treatment.
Publications
View lab publications via PubMed.
For more information, visit the faculty profile page of Marcus Peter, PhD or the laboratory's website.
Contact Us
Contact Dr. Peter at 312-503-1291 or the Peter Lab at 312-503-2883.
Lab Staff
Postdoctoral Fellow
Graduate Students
Ashley Haluck-Kangas, Will Putzbach
Research Technician
Research Assistant Professor
Jindan Yu LabUnderstanding the genetic and epigenetic pathways to prostate cancer.
Understanding the genetic and epigenetic pathways to prostate cancer.
The Yu lab focuses on cancer genomics and translational cancer research. At the current stage, our primary research interest is to understand aberrant transcriptional and epigenetic regulation of prostate cancer and to translate such knowledge into clinical applications. We utilize high-throughput genomic techniques in combination with bioinformatics/statistical analysis to generate testable hypothesis. We then test these hypotheses using traditional molecular and/or cellular biological approaches and examine the functional relevance of these innovative regulatory pathways in vitro and in vivo using cell lines and mouse models. Based on the genetic and epigenetic underpinning of the disease, we pursue translational research to develop new biomarkers and novel therapeutics strategies for advanced prostate cancer.
Select Publications
Kim J, Lee Y, Lu X, Song B, Fong KW, Cao Q, Licht JD, Zhao JC, Yu J. Polycomb- and Methylation-Independent Roles of EZH2 as a Transcription Activator. Cell Reports. 2018 Dec 04. PMID: 30517868
Fong KW, Zhao JC, Song B, Zheng B, Yu J. TRIM28 protects TRIM24 from SPOP-mediated degradation and promotes prostate cancer progression. Nat Commun. 2018 Nov 27. PMID: 30479348
Fong KW, Zhao JC, Kim J, Li S, Yang YA, Song B, Rittie L, Hu M, Yang X, Perbal B, Yu J. Polycomb-mediated disruption of an androgen receptor feedback loop drives castration-resistant prostate cancer. CancerRes. 2016 Nov 4. PMID: 27815387
View all lab publications via PubMed.
For more information, visit the faculty profile page of Jindan Yu, MD, PhD.
Contact Us
Contact Dr. Yu at 312-503-2980 or the Yu Lab at 312-503-3041.
Lab Staff
Research Faculty
Jonathan Zhao, MD, MS, Shivani Agarwal, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellows
Ahmad Hasan Othman, PhD, Jawad Akhtar, PhD, Hongshun Shi, MD, PhD, Najma Shaheen, PhD, Wanqing Xie, PhD, Xiaodong Lu, PhD
Graduate Students
Galina Gritsina, Lourdes Brea, Qi Chu, Viriya Keo
Undergraduate Students
Bin Zhang LabThe Zhang Lab investigates the tumor-induced immune suppression.
The Zhang Lab investigates the tumor-induced immune suppression.
Dr. Zhang’s laboratory work is focused on understanding the mechanisms of tumor-induced immune evasion. The overall goal is to develop novel and feasible strategies to improve cancer immunotherapy. He has been recently interested in the tumor microenvironment complexity whereby CD73 functions as an ecto-enzyme to produce extracellular adenosine, which limits anti-tumor T cell immunity. He is exploring the detailed mechanisms of CD73 by which the tumors evade the immune system using a combination of molecular, biochemical and mouse genetic approaches and to accomplish the targeted elimination of CD73 as a novel means to enhance cancer immunotherapy. Other ongoing studies involve: (1) Analyze the contribution of new key molecules including microRNAs from the perspective of cancer immunology in regulating regulatory T cells and/or myeloid derived suppressive cells; (2) Define a novel use of pre-existing chemotherapy drugs to overcome tumor-mediated immunosuppression; (3) Characterize the role of novel molecules in tumor T cell immunity and autoimmunity; (4) Understand the differential immune regulation in GVHD vs. GVL; and (5) Develop new animal models that can be employed in preclinical studies to most reflect human clinical trials.
Publications
View lab publications via PubMed.
For more information, visit the faculty profile page of Bin Zhang, MD/PhD.
Contact Us
Contact Dr. Zhang at 312-695-6180 or the Zhang Lab at 312-503-2435.
Lab Staff
Siqi Chen
Graduate Student
312-503-2435
Donye Senon Dominguez
Graduate Student
312-503-2432
Jie Fan
Senior Technician
312-503-2435
Alan Long
Grad student
312-503-2432
Lei Qin
Postdoc Scholar
312-503-2432