Cancer Neuroscience Through the Ticks of the Circadian Clock
Our lab investigates the intersection of neuroscience, cancer biology, and circadian rhythms, with a focus on glioblastoma (GBM), the most aggressive form of brain cancer. We're especially interested in how the body's internal clock and sleep influence tumor growth and treatment response. Here are some of our current research directions.
Circadian control of tumor growth
Every cell in the body runs on an internal clock that helps regulate its function, and cancer cells are no exception. We're studying how GBM tumor cells interact with and potentially hijack the circadian clock to grow. Understanding these clock dynamics may reveal new vulnerabilities to target therapeutically.
Circadian rhythms and cancer: a two-way street
Circadian rhythms and cancer may influence each other more than we realize. We are exploring the bidirectional relationship between circadian processes and GBM: how circadian disruption may accelerate tumor progression, and whether changes in circadian patterns could serve as early biomarkers of disease.
Chronotherapy: timing cancer treatment for better outcomes
When we treat cancer matters. We're investigating whether aligning therapy timing with a patient's (or tumor's) circadian rhythms can improve treatment effectiveness. Our long-term goal is to develop more personalized, time-informed cancer therapies.