Medical Student Research Fellowship for Summer 2012

Mentor: Rolf A Brekken                   
Department: Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research/Surgery                   
Room number:           NB8.222
Mail Code:                 8593
Phone number:          x85151
E-mail:                        rolf.brekken@utsouthwestern.edu
Project title:                The biology of anti-cancer therapy

Human subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable):      

Animal subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable):      

Project Type (patient-based research, animal-based research, or basic research; this characterization is only to permit a general classification for grouping similar types of projects)  basic research

Brief Description of Project:
We have various projects that are focused on understanding how targeted therapies affect the tumor microenvironment. We are particularly interested in pathways that control angiogenesis and metastasis. Factors that regulate these pathways that we are currently investigating include: vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK), Axl, SPARC and discoidin domain receptors (DDRs), fibulin-5 (Fbln5) and TBK1.  Summer projects are organized around one of these targets and utilize cell lines, and/or archival tissue from prior experiments. Summer students interact closely with a permanent lab member (postdoc or grad student) who is working on the project and who can help guide the summer student.  An achievable goal for the project is set in consultation with the postdoc or grad student. The overall goal is for the summer student to have success in the lab and experience what ‘research’ in a cancer lab is like.

Previous Research Activities or Publications with Medical Students: