Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms of Copper-Dependent Nutrient Signaling and Metabolism in Cancer

While kinase inhibitors have dramatically changed the landscape of cancer treatment, the near-universal emergence of resistance limits their clinical durability. Our research program is founded in a new paradigm in nutrient sensing and protein regulation, termed metalloallostery, whereby redox-active metals control kinase activity. Our laboratory’s focus lies at the intersection of kinase signaling and copper (Cu) homeostasis with the goal of defining the mechanisms regulating Cu-dependent kinases in order to target them in cancer through drug development or repurposing. The emergence of this new and clinically relevant signaling paradigm has highlighted the need to understand how redox-active metals interact with signaling pathways and underscores the promise of discovering new modes of kinase regulation as orthogonal therapeutic vulnerabilities.

Speaker: Donita Brady, University of Pennsylvania