UCL Cancer Institute Guest Lecture

Distinguished guest, Professor Scott Lowe, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, presents: 'Tumour Suppressor and Tumour Maintenance Genes'. Thursday 3rd December, 5pm

Professor Lowe is one of the world leading Cancer biologists. His work focuses on tumour suppressor genes, oncogenes and cell death. He is Chair of the Cancer Biology and Genetics Program at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre, chairman of the Geoffrey Beene Cancer Research Centre, and professor of the Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences.

Cancer arises through an evolutionary process whereby normal cells acquire mutations that erode growth controls, leading to the inappropriate proliferation and survival of neoplastic cells. Such mutations can involve activation of oncogenes or inactivation of tumour-suppressor genes, each contributing one or more new capabilities to the developing cancer cell as well as certain liabilities that provide opportunities for therapeutic intervention. Our laboratory is interested in understanding how the genetic alterations in cancer cells contribute to tumorigenesis, alter treatment response, and create vulnerabilities that may be targeted therapeutically. Our approach involves combining genetic and genomic tools that enable us to explore various aspects of cancer biology in a comprehensive way. On one hand, we have optimize short hairpin RNA technology to improve the potency and specificity for use in forward based RNAi screens or suppression of gene function in mice; on the other hand, we have developed novel mouse models approaches to use RNAi to inducibly and reversibly suppress gene function in vivo, either systemically or at different stages of tumorigenesis. We are using these tools to identify new cancer genes and produce new insights into well-validated cancer drivers and therapeutic targets. In addition, we are performing genetic screens to identify new cancer drivers or cancer vulnerabilities. Recent efforts have focused on elucidating acquired dependencies produced by commonly altered cancer drivers (APC, MYC, RAS, and p53), and to identify strategies to trigger selective death or differentiation of these cells. 

Hosted by Professor Henning Walczak

The seminar will be followed by a canapé reception at the Courtyard Café

Thursday 3rd December, 5.00pm

Location

UCL Cancer Institute
Courtyard Café
Paul O'Gorman Building 
72 Huntley Street
London, WC1E 6DD