Signal Transduction and Chemical Biology Research Program (ST) (Project-003)

Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville TN

Investigators

Linked publications, trials & patents

Abstract

PROJECT 003 ? SIGNAL TRANSDUCTION AND CHEMICAL BIOLOGY PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT The Signal Transduction and Chemical Biology Research Program (ST) is an active group of basic scientists focused on signaling networks that control cell proliferation, stem cell function and tumorigenesis, and the development of chemical inhibitors for these signaling pathways. The Program has changed the name from Signal Transduction and Cell Proliferation since the last renewal to reflect that inhibitors of mutant or activated signaling components have had a major impact in genotype-driven clinical trials and that future therapeutic advances will require a better understanding of signaling networks and how these networks change and evolve during cancer progression and in response to inhibitors (e.g., mechanisms of resistance). ST goals are to understand how perturbations in signaling networks drive the development of cancer, to use this information to identify therapeutic targets, and to develop new chemical tools or even lead compounds for new therapeutics. This Program seeks to leverage the genetic analysis of cancer (e.g., TCGA data and/or the CE Program), stem cell biology and high-content systems analysis of signaling networks for the identification of key nodes that can be tested in model systems (e.g., using new technology such as CRISPR/Cas9), used for the synthesis of inhibitors, and that eventually can be targeted therapeutically. ST is organized into several groups with common interests: signaling networks, chemical biology, stem cell biology and cell cycle control. The overall goals are to promote outstanding basic research in signaling networks and to provide intellectual support for clinical programs working with inhibitors of signaling and cell cycle pathways; to stimulate interactions among the Program membership to accelerate discovery; to stimulate the use of new technologies; and to work closely with Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center (VICC) shared resources to make new instrumentation and methods available that will accelerate cancer research. There are 41 program members from 13 departments and three schools, with $3.9M in NCI funding and $6.3M in other peer-reviewed cancer-related funding. Out of 458 publications, 12% are intra-programmatic and 28% are inter-programmatic. Members also have 143 collaborative publications with investigators at other institutions.