Karen Beljan, BS '05, Environmental Engineering
Beljan, of Eden, New York, evaluated remediation alternatives to improve the water quality of Onondaga Lake, ultimately helping to develop a method to aerate the lake that would improve the water and ecosystem.
(Photo: KC Kratt, MFA '84)
The research is focused on transforming growth factor ƒÒ1 (TGF-£]1), a major cytokine in the tumor microenvironment. TGF-£]1 plays a prominent role in cancer progression as well as in the development and homeostasis of nearly all organs and tissues, including breast. TGF-£]1 is a powerful inhibitor of cell growth and can induce apoptosis in responsive cells. In early-stage cancers, TGF-£]1 functions as a potent tumor suppressor, and alterations in the TGF-£]1 pathway are implicated in cancer development. Paradoxically, advanced breast tumors secrete abnormally high levels of TGF-£]1, and this is associated with tumor growth, invasion and metastases. Understanding the molecular mechanism behind the oncogenic TGF-£]1 function is critical for the development of diagnostic tools and cancer treatment. The research program includes three main research directions: (i) the mechanism of TGF-£]1-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) as a means of the acquisition of motility and invasiveness; (ii) TGF-£]1-mediated changes in the tumor microenvironment and angiogenesis; (iii) TGF-£]1 in the regulation of metabolic pathways involving glutathione and energy resources. The goal is to identify key factors responsible for the oncogenic function of TGF-£]1 in order to design diagnostic tools and cancer treatment.
Date Open: Jan 1, 2008 to Jan 1, 2010
Suggested Skill Set: basic knowledge of biochemistry
familiar with microbiology
Compensation: Credit, Voluntary, Work Study
Professor(s): Andrei Bakin (andrei.bakin@roswellpark.org)
Department: Cancer Genetics
Address: Roswell Park Cancer Institute
Phone: (716)845-1033
Website: http://www.roswellpark.org/Research...