George A. Lantz

Department of Cancer Biology | Corsello Lab

As a member of the Corsello laboratory, I study the mechanisms that allow extrachromosomal DNA (ecDNA) to persist in cancer cells. ecDNA drives high oncogene expression and contributes to tumor evolution, drug resistance, and poor clinical outcomes, yet the cellular machinery required for its maintenance remains incompletely understood. I am developing imaging-based genetic screening approaches to identify factors that regulate ecDNA inheritance and copy number, using fluorescently labeled ecDNA together with high-throughput image-enabled cell sorting. These studies aim to uncover targetable dependencies unique to ecDNA-positive cancers and identify new strategies for selectively eliminating ecDNA from tumor cells.

Amelia Talluri

Department of Chemical and Systems Biology | Li Lab and Gray Lab

Many solid and aggressive tumors evade the surveillance of the immune system by upregulating the innate immune checkpoint ENPP1. ENPP1 degrades the immunotransmitter cGAMP, thus dampening the natural anti-cancer STING-mediated immune response and also dampening the efficacy of current cancer therapies. My goal is to improve how ENPP1-targeted therapies are delivered to tumors by harnessing the expertise of the Li lab, which specializes in understanding and targeting the cGAMP-ENPP1 axis for cancer therapy, and the Gray lab, which specializes in developing and utilizing new chemical probes.

Clea Crane

Department of Chemistry | Banik Lab

Josie Warfield

Department of Chemistry | Gray Lab

Vali Engles

Department of Biochemistry | Straight Lab

I study the mechanisms of chromosome segregation and the role of centromere-specific proteins in maintaining genome stability. A protein central to chromosome segregation is CENtromere Protein A (CENP-A), a histone variant essential for the epigenetic specification of centromeres. Mislocalization of CENP-A can lead to aneuploidy, which is a condition often associated with cancer treatment resistance. My research focuses on understanding the targeting mechanism of the Mis18 protein complex, which plays a critical role in directing CENP-A assembly at centromeres in humans and many other vertebrates.

Ibrahim Maaz

Department of Biochemistry | Abu-Remaileh Lab

As a member of the Abu-Remaileh laboratory, I study lysosomal metabolism and its disruption in neurodegeneration, with a particular emphasis on bis(monoacylglycero)phosphate (BMP), an anionic glycerophospholipid enriched in late endosomes and lysosomes that regulates intralysosomal vesicle formation, lipid degradation, cargo trafficking, and signal transduction. Dysregulation of BMP contributes to multiple lysosomal and neurodegenerative diseases. BMP accumulates in Niemann-Pick Type C1 due to impaired cholesterol transport, facilitating cholesterol export from lysosomes. In contrast, BMP is depleted in Batten disease, leading to lipid accumulation and neurodegeneration. Our lab has identified the BMP synthase CLN5 and the hydrolase PLA2G15, and I am building on this knowledge by structurally characterizing CLN5, fully mapping the BMP sythesis pathway, and working with the lab to develop novel regulators of BMP by designing modulators of PLA2G15 and CLN5. These studies will provide mechanistic insight into lysosomal lipid regulation and may reveal therapeutic avenues for neurodegenerative diseases. This has great potential in deseases such as frontotemporal dementia in which BMP restoration may improve glycosphingolipid clearance and lysosomal function which could in turn slow neuronal loss and disease progression.

Adrianne Kinsey

Department of Chemistry | Chen Lab

In the Chen lab, we are developing selective and potent inhibitors of the aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) enzyme family, which consists of 19 isoforms. Many ALDH isoforms are upregulated in various cancer types, often associated with stem-like cancer cell populations. Our work has primarily focused on ALDH1B1, investigating its role in colorectal and pancreatic cancers. Recently, we identified ALDH1B1 as essential for colorectal cancer survival, highlighting its potential as a drug target. Building on this foundation, my project will focus on designing small-molecule modulators of another isoform, ALDH1A3, which has been implicated in glioblastoma, triple-negative breast cancer, melanoma, and more. A new potent inhibitor of ALDH1A3 could not only be a basis for new anti-cancer therapeutics but will also enable mechanistic studies to better understand its role in cancer cell proliferation.

Gerardo Vargas

Department of Chemical and Systems Biology | Pleiner Lab

My project investigates the molecular mechanisms underlying the biogenesis of multipass membrane proteins, with a focus on the folding and assembly of multibundle transmembrane proteins. I aim to identify and characterize the molecular chaperones and other factors that facilitate these processes. To accomplish this, I will use a diverse range of membrane protein families as model substrates, allowing me to dissect the features that determine the fate of nascent protein chains during their transition into fully mature membrane complexes. Ultimately, my goal is to deepen our understanding of membrane protein functionality in various biological systems and diseases, offering critical insights that can guide the design of new therapeutic targets.