Departments & Divisions
Research
Professor of Medicine
Biochemistry
Microbiology, and Immunology
Lymphoma Biology
BCR signaling, transcription factor deregulation, and mitochondrial metabolism
Our group focus is on the identification and functional characterization of the genetic abnormalities of hematologic malignancies. We utilize in vitro and in vivo systems, in genome-wide or targeted studies, with the intent of translating these discoveries into clinical initiatives. The principal disease model in our lab is B-cell lymphoma. Active research lines stem from our recently published work and include: 1) The intersection between B-cell receptor signaling and phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) as actionable therapeutic targets in mature B cell malignancies; 2) Metabolic imbalance and epigenetic reprogramming in lymphomas; 3) Transcription factor IRF8 and lymphomagenesis.
Related diseases: B cell lymphomas, lymphoid leukemias
Techniques: Genetic modification of cancer cells in vitro using retrovirus and lentivirus, genetic engineering of mouse models, in vivo (mouse) manipulations, multiple signaling assays, genome-wide analysis (DNA, RNA, and protein) of primary human tumors
Funding Agency BLR&D Merit Review Award - VA Title Non-coding RNAs at the interface of aberrant NF-kB signals and lymphomagenesis Status Active Period 4/2013 - 3/2017 Role Principal Investigator Grant Detail
Funding Agency CPRIT Title Inactivating mutation of D2HGDH establishes a novel link between metabolism, alpha-KG dependent dioxygenases and epigenetic reprograming in B cell lymphoma Status Active Period 8/2014 - 7/2017 Role Principal Investigator Grant Detail
Ortega M, Bhatnagar H, Lin AP, Wang L, Aster JC, Sill H, Aguiar RC. A microRNA-mediated regulatory loop modulates NOTCH and MYC oncogenic signals in B and T cell malignancies Leukemia 2014 Oct;. Cheah CY, Burbury K, Apperley JF, Huguet F, Pitini V, Gardembas M, Ross DM, Forrest D, Genet P, Rousselot P, Patton N, Smith G, Dunbar CE, Ito S, Aguiar RC, Odenike O, Gimelfarb A, Cross NC, Seymour JF. Patients with myeloid malignancies bearing PDGFRB fusion genes achieve durable long-term remissions with imatinib Blood 2014 Jun;123(23):3574-3577.