Page 6 - Labatt BTRC Annual Report 2020-2021

PRINCIPAL INVE
LABORATORY PERSONNEL
Kamal Othman, Graduate Student
Andrea Tench, Graduate Student
Yangjing (Alice) Zhang, Postdoctoral Fellow Sascha Dho, Senior Research Associate Emilie Ernoult, Research Associate
Jessica Lapierre, Research Technologist Amanda Luck, Research Technologist
Dr. Jane McGlade
Senior Scientist, Principal Investigator
Dr. McGlade’s research program is directed towards understanding the specificity and dynamics of protein-protein interactions involved in cell signalling events that contribute to the development of cancer. Work in the McGlade lab focuses on the molecular structure, cellular functions and interaction networks of modular adaptor proteins that regulate critical oncogenic signalling pathways. Together with clinical
and industry collaborators they work towards translating discovery of specific molecular signalling events into strategies for drug discovery. Ongoing projects in the laboratory focus on how cell type specific expression
of modular adaptors and isoforms promotes the activation of unique oncogenic signalling pathways creating distinct molecular signatures in cancer subtypes, and investigation of the developmental and oncogenic signalling pathways that control alternative splicing giving rise to specific protein isoform expression
in tumour cells. The long-term goal of Dr. McGlade’s research is to advance knowledge of the molecular mechanisms that regulate signal transduction and determine the specific molecular events that can be targetted for therapeutic intervention.
Research Support: b.r.a.i.n.child, Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Cancer Research Society, Meagan’s HUG (Meagan Bebenek Foundation), Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada
Dr. James T. Rutka
Director, The Arthur and Sonia Labatt BTRC, Principal Investigator
Dr. Rutka’s laboratory studies the cytoskeleton as a means to increase our understanding of the mechanisms by which astrocytoma cells invade normal brain tissue. The cell’s cytoskeleton plays a fundamental role in the cell’s ability to grow, divide and many cytoskeleton related genes are mutated in cancer. Current studies are aimed at investigating the small Rho-GTPases as potential targets for inhibiting astrocytoma invasiveness.
Dr. Rutka’s lab is actively exploring the application of novel technologies for tumour therapies including delivery of therapeutics
to the tumour using gold nanoparticles and temporary disruption of the blood-brain barrier with focused ultrasound to facilitate drug entry into the tumour while avoiding damage to normal brain tissues. Dr. Rutka’s lab is interested in developing new strategies of drug delivery for patients with diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG). Specifically, the Rutka lab is adapting ultrasound technology to precisely target the tumours, open the blood- brain barrier to permit drug access and deliver novel drug compounds attached to gold nanoparticles in these tumour types.
Research Support: b.r.a.i.n.child, Canadian Cancer Society Research Institute, Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Curing Kids Cancer, Meagan’s HUG (Meagan Bebenek Foundation), Nelina’s Hope, The Wiley Fund
LABORATORY PERSONNEL
Carlyn Figueiredo, Graduate Student Dilakshan Srikanthan, Graduate Student Michael Taccone, Graduate Student Naohide Fujita, Postdoctoral Fellow Andrew Bondoc, Research Project Manager Stacey Krumholtz, Medical Illustrator James Loukides, Project Manager
Amanda Luck, Research Technologist Christian Smith, Operations Manager
26 IMAGINE 2020-21
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