Vlashi Research Lab
Vlashi Lab
Cancer stem cells. Cancer metabolism. Drug discovery.
The Vlashi laboratory is committed to pursuing projects with a high potential for translation to clinical practice for cancer patients, with a particular interest in improving the effect of radiation therapy (RT) for resistant tumors, such as glioblastoma multiforme and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.
The main research interests of our group focus on the metabolism of cancer cells, specifically on cancer cells with a cancer-initiating phenotype (cancer stem/initiating cells, CSC/CICs) and the changes induced by radiation therapy that ultimately lead to resistance.
Our group’s expertise in cancer stem cell biology, radiation biology expertise and metabolism of cancer initiating cells is essential in our efforts to better understand the pro-survival, metabolic changes (metabolic reprogramming) induced by therapies, and work towards the ultimate goal of identifying targetable vulnerabilities for therapeutic gain.
Recent Updates
- Justine presented her research project at the ARTNet meeting. Congratulations!
- Research paper accepted! Our investigation on the role of PKM2 in rewiring glucose metabolism to induce an antioxidant response and radiation resistance in glioblastoma, has been accepted in Neuro-Oncology.
- Congratulations to Sumitra and Brooke on their graduation! Farewell and good luck!