Cristina Branco, PI
The understanding that the outcome of Breast Cancer was a function of the physiological state of the endothelial cell, which can either facilitate or deter the establishment of metastasis, was the start of many questions regarding the role of these cells in disease, as well as physiological performance of organs constantly exposed to challenge, whether physiological or pathological, internal or external.
I question, investigate, speculate and coordinate the projects in the lab, aiming to dissect how microvasculature responds and remodels tissue microenvironment and organ homeostasis, and essentially how that affects metastatic disease and co-morbidities associated with cancer and treatment.
Tamara Mc Erlain, PhD Candidate
Endothelial cells are the first to sense and respond to intravenously administered chemotherapy and its toxic effects. Acute effects from treatment are usually transient, but long-term effects may result in persistent vascular dysfunction and long-term morbidities for cancer survivors. Using a combination of molecular biology, immunocytochemistry/IF and bioinformatics, as a MSc student Tamara has unveiled relevant responses of endothelial cells when exposed to circulating levels of anthracyclines, that correlate with microvasculature-driven organ failure seen in many cancer survivors.
Having been awarded a place within the Queen's/NCI graduate programme, she is currently completing research for her doctorate degree in the laboratory of Dr Meera Murgai, evaluating the perivascular niche in pre-metastatic organs.
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