Cancer Institute Seminar Series - Kamil R Kranc

Prof Kranc is a medically qualified scientist with a DPhil in Biochemistry and postdoctoral training in immunology, haematopoietic/leukaemic stem cell biology and cancer research. The central aim of his Cancer Research UK-funded research programme is to identify therapeutic targets for haematopoietic stem cell expansion for transplantation purposes as well as eradication of leukaemic/cancer stem cells in acute myeloid leukaemia.

The group employs multidisciplinary cellular and molecular approaches to understand how haematopoietic stem cells sustain life-long multilineage haematopoiesis, and how these functions are affected under pathological conditions to generate leukaemic stem cells. Specifically, they investigate the impact of diverse oxygen sensing and signalling pathways on gene transcription, mRNA modifications (i.e. the epitranscriptome), RNA splicing, and mitochondrial metabolism in normal and malignant haematopoiesis. Following target validation, the group intends to launch a drug discovery programme aiming to identify and explore selective small molecule inhibitors, which will be applied in subsequent clinical trials in AML and HSC expansion. Finally, bearing in mind that leukaemic stem cells serve as a paradigm for other cancer stem cells, the Kranc laboratory works with multiple collaborators to explore the broad ramifications of their findings in other blood malignancies and solid tumours.

• Prof Kamil R Kranc academic profile

Hosted by Prof Tariq Enver
A light lunch will be served after the seminar.

This seminar has been sponsored in part by the NIHR/UCLH Biomedical Research Centre and Cancer Research UK