Signal Transduction and Therapeutics (STT)

University Of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles CA

Investigators

Linked publications, trials & patents

Abstract

SIGNAL TRANSDUCTION AND THERAPEUTICS (STT) RESEARCH PROGRAM ABSTRACT The UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center (JCCC) Signal Transduction and Therapeutics (STT) Research Program is led by Director Richard Finn, MD, and Co-Director Edward Garon, MD, MS. Finn is an internationally recognized leader in liver and breast cancer research with extensive experience in the use of preclinical models to guide clinical development. Garon is a leader in correlative research and clinical investigation in lung cancer who uses data from the clinic to guide clinical trials that generate new scientific insights and discoveries. STT brings together basic scientists, translational researchers, and clinical investigators in studies of signal transduction and metabolic pathways for increased fundamental understanding and to develop pathway interventions that impede the growth or spread of cancer. The Program consistently delivers high impact, paradigm, and practice changing basic and clinical research advances emanating from activities that include but are not limited to monthly Program meetings, quarterly luncheons, and an annual symposium that highlights and provides feedback on work-in-progress mainly for junior investigators. STT leaders and multiple meeting formats foster intra- and inter-programmatic collaborations, and Program leaders work to identify faculty whose research aligns with STT priority areas for membership. Mentorship of junior investigators is an important Program role. The Program has guidance from current and next period JCCC Strategic Plans and organizes its activities in three Specific Aims. Aim 1 is to identify mechanisms by which cancer cells utilize metabolic perturbations to drive pathogenesis with recognition of alterations that could be therapeutically exploited. Aim 2 is to identify mechanisms by which cancer cells utilize specific signal transduction pathways with a goal of finding and exploiting specific cancer cell vulnerabilities. Aim 3 is to identify, develop, and evaluate novel therapeutic approaches with the potential to block cancer cell signaling or deprive cancer cells of nutrients or other factors required for growth and survival. Critical for each Aim is Program facilitation of interactions between basic and clinical scientists. STT has 48 members from 21 departments located within five UCLA schools. Members are highly productive with 952 cancer publications during 2019 – 2023, with 45% in high impact (IF ≥10) journals. Program members have support from $26.8M in direct cost cancer funding, of which $6.5M (24%) is from the NCI and $12.4M (46%) is peer-reviewed. Program research and the JCCC are highly interdependent, with extensive use of all six JCCC Shared Resources, the JCCC Intramural Awards Program, space allocations, recruitment and retention of key investigators, and support for programmatic activities and initiatives. Efforts to translate JCCC in-house science are advancing, with several agents currently in the clinic and more on the way. STT leverages groundbreaking research within a clinical network that is changing the standard of care globally with a particular focus on advances against malignancies with a high prevalence, mortality, and opportunity in the JCCC Los Angeles County (LAC) catchment area.